Peter Obi has called on Senator Francis Fadahunsi to publicly retract comments the presidential candidate described as inflammatory, urging the Osun East lawmaker to apologise to residents of the state just days before Saturday’s governorship election.
The controversy centers on a video that surfaced showing Fadahunsi allegedly instructing supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party ahead of the vote. The senator has since denied any call for violence, insisting his comments meant to “kill Accord” through the ballot box rather than through physical harm. Obi, however, wasn’t willing to let the remarks pass without comment, addressing the controversy directly in a statement titled “Senator Francis Fadahunsi’s Incendiary Rhetoric Ahead of the Osun Election,” posted to his official X account Tuesday.
Obi framed the issue as one of constitutional responsibility, arguing that Fadahunsi’s position in the National Assembly comes with a duty to promote peace rather than heighten tension. “As a high-ranking lawmaker representing the people in the National Assembly, Senator Fadahunsi carries a solemn constitutional and moral responsibility to promote peace, uphold democratic norms, and foster unity,” he said, describing the alleged remarks as “alarming and unacceptable” and warning that language of this kind risks frightening voters and potentially sparking electoral violence regardless of the speaker’s intended meaning.
For Obi, the core issue is what elections are supposed to represent in the first place: a peaceful process through which citizens choose their leaders freely, without pressure or fear. “Resorting to threats of force or disruption undermines the integrity of our electoral process, disrespects the electorate, and threatens the fragile peace of the state,” he said, before issuing his direct appeal to the senator. “I therefore respectfully demand that Senator Fadahunsi retract these harmful statements and tender an apology to the peaceful people of Osun State.”
Obi extended his call beyond Fadahunsi alone, urging political leaders, party supporters, and other stakeholders across the state to moderate their rhetoric and show restraint as election day approaches. He also called on security agencies to actively monitor inflammatory statements from any political figure and ensure adequate protection for voters, election officials, and citizens throughout the voting period and its aftermath. “The democratic mandate belongs to the people, and no individual, regardless of status or political office, should attempt to subvert the will of the people through fear or coercion,” he said.
He closed his statement with a direct appeal to Osun residents themselves, encouraging them to remain calm and exercise their constitutional right to vote peacefully when polls open Saturday.
