- Fadahunsi has clarified his controversial “Kill Accord” remark ahead of the Osun governorship election.
- He said he meant defeating the Accord Party through votes, not violence.
- Fadahunsi also urged politicians, voters and security agencies to ensure a peaceful and credible election
Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has explained his controversial “Kill Accord” statement, insisting that he was referring to defeating the Accord Party through the ballot and not promoting violence.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the controversy followed the circulation of a video on social media in which Fadahunsi addressed supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Ilesa ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
EDITOR’S PICK
- How Lagos Achieved 57.4% Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate
- Shaibu Lists Nigeria’s Biggest Security Challenges
- Vote, Protect Your Mandate, Governor Adeleke Urges Residents Ahead of August 15 Polls.
In the video, the senator spoke in Yoruba and accused supporters of the Accord Party of attacking APC members. Some of his comments were subsequently interpreted as a call for confrontation.
Fadahunsi was also seen urging members of the gathering to record his remarks and share them online.
However, his media office, in a statement issued in Osogbo on Tuesday, said the senator’s comments had been taken out of context.
The statement, titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,” explained that the remark was political rhetoric intended to encourage APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party through voting.
According to the statement, Fadahunsi was advocating a peaceful and democratic rejection of the party at the polls during the August 15 governorship election.
It stressed that the senator neither encouraged violence nor called for attacks against Accord Party members or supporters.
The media office said Fadahunsi’s position remained that elections should be won through the votes of the people rather than intimidation or force.
The senator also appealed to political parties, their supporters and voters to maintain peace throughout the electoral period.
He urged security agencies to discharge their responsibilities professionally and ensure that eligible voters could participate in the election without fear or intimidation.
The statement further said Fadahunsi remained committed to democratic principles, issue-based campaigns and a credible electoral process.
It urged members of the public to avoid deliberately misrepresenting his comments, stressing that his reference to “killing” Accord was intended to mean securing an electoral victory through the ballot.
The senator maintained that the outcome of the election should ultimately reflect the freely expressed choice of the electorate.
FURTHER READING
