Prosecute Fadahunsi over remarks, Adeleke campaign spokesperson urges police

The Nigeria Police Force has been urged to investigate and prosecute Senator Francis Fadahunsi if evidence establishes that his remarks during the recent Osun State governorship election constituted an offence.

The call was made by the spokesperson for the Ademola Adeleke Governorship Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, on his Facebook page on Friday.

He expressed concern over what he described as the growing use of threats and inflammatory statements by political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the incident was part of a wider pattern of political actors allegedly threatening citizens over their political choices.

He recalled that days before the August 15 Osun State governorship election, Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, was captured on video making remarks against members of the Accord Party which generated public criticism.

The police subsequently invited Fadahunsi for questioning, but he was released hours later without prosecution.

Olajengbesi urged political actors to persuade voters through their records and policies rather than threats or intimidation.

He warned that failure by law enforcement agencies to respond appropriately to inflammatory political statements could encourage others to adopt similar tactics.

“When the first threat attracts no meaningful consequence, the second politician becomes bolder. When the second goes unpunished, a third follows. Eventually, intimidation becomes normalised as an instrument of electoral politics,” he said.

According to him, inflammatory rhetoric during elections should be treated seriously because of its potential to trigger violence.

“Words have consequences, particularly when they come from influential political figures addressing charged supporters during an election,” he said.

Olajengbesi therefore called on the police to act within the law on the allegations involving Fadahunsi.

“The Nigeria Police Force must therefore make an example of Senator Fadahunsi through the due process of investigation and prosecution where the evidence establishes an offence,” he said.

Olajengbesi said Nigeria could not afford to enter the 2027 elections with political threats and intimidation becoming accepted features of democratic competition.

He called on political parties, candidates, supporters and law enforcement agencies to ensure that Nigerians are free to make their electoral choices without threats or coercion.

“If we fail to confront this culture now, we risk entering the 2027 elections with political threats and intimidation gradually becoming accepted features of our democracy,” he warned.