Governor Ademola Adeleke has stepped into the fray over a disturbing video circulating online, which he says captures Senator Francis Fadahunsi urging violence against leaders of the Accord Party and their families. What might have been brushed aside as political mudslinging has now escalated into something far more serious, according to the governor.
Speaking at an emergency press briefing on Tuesday, Adeleke painted a grim picture of the state’s political climate, insisting the alleged remarks have crossed every line of acceptable contestation. He did not mince words, framing the issue as a direct challenge to national security that demands the immediate attention of President Bola Tinubu and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat. I have demanded the immediate investigation and arrest of the senator,” Adeleke declared, his tone leaving no room for ambiguity.
The governor has formally called on the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services to launch a full probe into the allegations against Fadahunsi. But he went further, urging security agencies to halt what he described as unlawful operations targeting Accord members, and to ensure that every action taken before, during, and after Saturday’s governorship election adheres strictly to the rule of law.
Adeleke did not stop there. He levelled a more explosive accusation, claiming that a police directive has already been issued for the immediate arrest of Accord Party leaders in Osun State, timed to hit just days before the election. According to the governor, reliable reports indicate a police signal has arrived in the state, ordering the detention of these leaders and their transfer to Abuja, where they would be held until Monday.
In a move that underscores the gravity of the situation, Adeleke said he has already reached out to the Inspector-General of Police to demand clarity on whether such an order truly exists. “I am appealing to him that this development, if true, is illegal, and presents Nigeria as a lawless country,” he said, his frustration palpable.
The governor warned that arresting Accord leaders on the eve of the election would be a devastating blow to the integrity of the electoral process. He has urged the police to issue a public statement reassuring Nigerians that no such directive has been sanctioned.
Adding another layer to the controversy, Adeleke claimed that more than 62 Accord leaders are currently languishing in police custody without any formal charges. “It is disturbing that we still have over 62 Accord leaders held in illegal police detention without any charges against them. This is not democracy,” he said.
The backdrop to this escalating tension includes an earlier call by the Imole Campaign Council, which had already demanded the arrest and prosecution of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi over the alleged threat to kill Accord members and supporters in Ijeshaland. That demand, issued in a statement on Tuesday and signed by the council’s Chairman of Media and Publicity, Bamidele Salam, now appears to have gained significant traction at the highest levels of state government.
With the election looming, the stakes could not be higher, and Adeleke’s words have turned a local dispute into a national flashpoint.
