Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has escalated the political crisis engulfing Osun State just days before its crucial governorship election, petitioning the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada to impose visa bans and other sanctions on Senator Francis Fadahunsi over a viral video in which the lawmaker allegedly threatened to kill members of the Accord Party. Adeyanju made the stunning announcement on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV's Prime Time programme, where he described the senator's comments as "unfortunate" and "regrettably threatening", and warned that they could heighten political tensions and encourage violence against opposition supporters.
Adeyanju said he had petitioned the three Western nations, asking them to consider visa restrictions and other appropriate measures against Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly. "Again, that takes me to the unfortunate remarks that we've just heard of Senator Fadahunsi, very regrettably threatening that members of the Accord Party be killed," Adeyanju said. He argued that the senator's comments, as he interpreted them, went beyond ordinary political rhetoric and amounted to an attempt to incite attacks against Accord members. "He's threatened that members of the Accord Party be killed," Adeyanju reiterated, describing the comments as an attempt to incite violence.
According to Adeyanju, the petition was intended to draw the attention of the three countries, particularly the United States, which has repeatedly expressed concern about threats to democratic processes and political violence in Nigeria. He argued that international pressure could help discourage politicians from making statements capable of provoking violence during elections and reinforce the message that threats capable of undermining Nigeria's democratic process would attract international scrutiny. "For a very long time, we've not witnessed this level of violence preceding an election," Adeyanju said, expressing concern over the political tension surrounding the Osun governorship election.
The controversy centres on a viral video that surfaced on Tuesday showing Fadahunsi addressing APC supporters in Ilesa, where he was allegedly heard telling them to "kill" any Accord Party member they encountered during the electoral process. Governor Ademola Adeleke has since demanded the senator's immediate arrest and prosecution, describing the comments as a "national security threat". The Osun State Police Command has summoned Fadahunsi, directing him to appear at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo on Wednesday, August 12, at 11 a.m., to clarify the circumstances surrounding his remarks. Fadahunsi has sought to defuse the controversy, insisting that his comments were metaphorical and intended to encourage APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party at the ballot box, not through violence.
Adeyanju also called on all leading candidates in the August 15 governorship election to openly condemn threats and violence against political opponents. He urged political actors to exercise restraint and allow voters to decide the outcome of the election peacefully. In a separate assessment of the Arise Town Hall session on the Osun governorship election, Adeyanju rated the performances of the leading candidates, giving Governor Ademola Adeleke a 60/40 edge over the APC candidate. He said Adeleke impressed him most because he attempted to provide details of projects carried out by his administration.
Adeyanju's petition marks a significant escalation in the political crisis surrounding the Osun election, raising the stakes for Senator Fadahunsi and potentially drawing international attention to the conduct of Nigeria's electoral process. The lawyer's decision to seek foreign sanctions against a sitting Nigerian senator is unprecedented and reflects the depth of concern over the rising tide of political violence in the country. Whether the US, UK and Canada will act on Adeyanju's petition remains to be seen, but his intervention has already succeeded in placing the controversy on the global stage. As Osun State prepares for Saturday's election, the people of the state can only hope that the focus will return to the issues that matter most: peace, democracy and the will of the voters.
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