Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Magistrate Court in Abuja has directed the Nigeria Police Force to investigate Senator Francis Fadahunsi, the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial District, over a viral video in which he was allegedly captured calling on supporters to "kill" members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday's governorship election in Osun State. The court, presided over by Magistrate Farida Ibrahim, issued the directive on Thursday, August 13, 2026, and gave the police two weeks to investigate the complaint and submit a report.
The order came just two days before the highly anticipated August 15 governorship election, in which incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is seeking re-election against the All Progressives Congress candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, and 13 other candidates. The controversy surrounding Senator Fadahunsi's comments has heightened political tensions in the state, where at least 29 people have been reportedly killed in election-related violence in recent months.
The court's directive followed a direct criminal complaint filed by Pelumi Olajengbesi, a lawyer and the spokesperson for Governor Adeleke's Imole Campaign Organisation. The complaint was filed under Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which requires that private complaints made directly to a court must first be referred to the police for investigation before the court can take further action. In a letter dated August 13, 2026, and signed by the court's Registrar, Abdulraham Yusuf, the magistrate directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7 Police Headquarters, Abuja, to investigate the case and report back within two weeks.
The controversy erupted after a video of Senator Fadahunsi addressing APC supporters at a campaign rally in Ilesa, Osun State, went viral on social media. In the footage, the senator, speaking in Yoruba, was heard telling his audience that Accord Party members should be killed whenever they were encountered. He was also reported to have said: "It is animal that kills. Have you ever heard that APC killed anyone? Are those being killed not your people? So, we have come to tell you, up till the day of the election, if we see them, it is killing."
The video sparked widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, with Governor Adeleke demanding the senator's immediate arrest and prosecution, describing the remarks as a "national security threat." The Osun State Government subsequently filed a separate suit before the State High Court in Osogbo, seeking an order of mandamus to compel the police to investigate the senator. The application, marked HOS/M.157/26, was filed by the Attorney-General of Osun State, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, and names the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, as respondents.
The state government argued in its court filing that the senator's comments, if authenticated, could pose a serious threat to public safety and electoral peace. It alleged that Fadahunsi not only called for the killing of Accord Party members but also extended the threat to their relatives, including their wives and children. The government also claimed that the senator instructed his supporters to chase Accord members out of hotels and described them as "not normal human beings" because of their yellow caps. The state is seeking an order directing the police to preserve, authenticate and conduct a forensic examination of the complete video to establish whether it has been altered or edited. It also wants the police to take preventive measures to protect Accord candidates, members and voters from intimidation or harassment before, during and after the election.
Senator Fadahunsi, however, has denied calling for the physical killing of Accord Party members. In a television interview, he insisted that his comments were political and metaphorical, arguing that he was urging APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party decisively through their votes. "If you listen to me very well, I didn't say it in English, so you cannot interpret it in English," he said, explaining that what he meant was that supporters should "shut them down with their votes." He further linked the remarks to alleged previous attacks and killings involving members of his community and political party, saying complaints had earlier been made to the police.
The magistrate's directive does not amount to a determination of criminal guilt. It is a procedural step under the ACJA, requiring the police to investigate the complaint and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant criminal charges. The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for Senator Fadahunsi, who is seeking re-election to the Senate in the 2027 general elections. It could also impact the conduct of the Osun governorship election, which is being closely watched as a bellwether for the 2027 polls.
The court's order comes amid heightened security concerns in Osun State, where the police have deployed over 15,000 officers to ensure a peaceful election. The police had previously invited Senator Fadahunsi for questioning over his comments, and he was released after being grilled for more than two hours. However, the magistrate's directive now places the police under a formal obligation to conduct a thorough investigation and report back within a specified timeframe.
The controversy has also sparked a separate legal battle between Olajengbesi and Senator Fadahunsi. Olajengbesi has threatened to institute a N10 billion defamation suit against the senator over separate allegations made during television interviews. In a letter dated August 12, 2026, Olajengbesi's lawyer, Hammed Lasisi, demanded that Fadahunsi retract statements allegedly made during interviews on Viable TV and Channels Television's Politics Today, in which the senator accused Olajengbesi of sponsoring thugs and members of the Eiye and Aye cult groups. Olajengbesi has denied the allegations and described them as false, defamatory and damaging to his reputation.
The court's directive to the police to investigate Senator Fadahunsi marks a significant development in the escalating political crisis in Osun State. With the election just two days away, the outcome of the police investigation could influence the conduct of the poll and shape the political landscape of the state for years to come. The people of Osun State are now watching to see whether the police will act decisively to uphold the rule of law and ensure that those who incite violence are held accountable, or whether the senator's words will be dismissed as mere political rhetoric in a season of heightened tensions.
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