The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has characterised the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, as a “do-or-die” affair for the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing an inflammatory remark by Senator Francis Fadahunsi as proof of a violent mindset within the ruling party.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi levelled the charge on Wednesday while appearing on Arise Television’s “Prime Time” programme. He pointed to a video circulating on social media in which Fadahunsi, the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial District, told a gathering of supporters to “go and kill them” in reference to members of the Accord Party ahead of the election. Fadahunsi subsequently claimed his words were taken out of context, explaining that he meant “defeating” the Accord Party, not physically harming its members.
Abdullahi dismissed the clarification. “Senator Fadahunsi’s ‘go and kill them’ comment was not a metaphor,” he said. He went further, attributing the rhetoric to the highest level of the APC leadership. “I don’t blame the senator for saying what he said; I blame the president because he got his authorisation from the president,” Abdullahi stated. “President Tinubu has said all is fair in politics, and that means you can kill, steal, or do whatever it takes to deliver victory.”
The accusation marks a sharp escalation in pre-election rhetoric in Osun State, where the APC, the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and several smaller parties — including the Accord Party and the ADC — are expected to contest the governorship seat. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not publicly addressed the specific allegations, but the commission has repeatedly urged political actors to avoid hate speech and violence in the run-up to the 2026 polls.
Civil society groups have previously warned that unchecked violent language by political leaders can embolden thuggery and undermine electoral integrity. As the campaign season approaches, security agencies will be under pressure to enforce the electoral act and ensure that political discourse remains within legal bounds.
