The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, over an alleged threat to his life and those of other voters ahead of Saturday’s election in the state.
Egbedun, who spoke at a press conference at the Assembly Complex on Wednesday, also took a swipe at the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, over what he described as inflammatory and inciting remarks against members of the Accord Party in Ijesaland.
The Speaker also disclosed that he had petitioned the police over an alleged threatening video involving Francis Eniade, the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-Otin Federal Constituency.
According to Egbedun, the alleged statements attributed to Fadahunsi and Eniade have heightened tension ahead of the election and created an atmosphere in which voters could become afraid to freely exercise their constitutional rights.
He said what should ordinarily be a celebration of democracy and civic participation had increasingly become a source of fear, intimidation and apprehension for residents.
Egbedun said the alleged threats could not be dismissed as ordinary political rhetoric, particularly when they involved direct references to elected officials and voters.
‘No Political Ambition Worth One Osun Life’
The Speaker said he was particularly disturbed by the video in which Eniade allegedly mentioned his name and issued threats against him and other eligible voters within the Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-Otin Federal Constituency.
He said such conduct, if established, should be treated as a serious security matter rather than an ordinary political disagreement.
“No political ambition is worth the life of one Osun citizen.”
Egbedun maintained that political actors had a responsibility to protect, rather than undermine, the democratic rights of citizens.
He said no candidate or political actor had the right to threaten citizens because of their political choices.
“As an elected representative of the people, I will not be intimidated by such threats, and neither should any citizen be forced to live in fear because of his or her political preference.”
Speaker Calls for Eniade’s Arrest, Investigation
Egbedun appealed directly to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate the alleged threat and take appropriate action if the allegations were established.
He specifically called for the arrest and investigation of Eniade, stressing that he had personally been mentioned in the alleged video alongside other eligible voters.
“I, therefore, call on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Tunji Disu, to immediately order the arrest and investigation of Francis Eniade over the threat, particularly given that I was personally mentioned and threatened in the video alongside other eligible voters in the constituency.”
The Speaker said the petition was necessary because of the potential implications of the alleged statements for life, voter intimidation and political violence ahead of the election.
Fadahunsi Under Fire
Egbedun also criticised Senator Fadahunsi over alleged inciting comments concerning Accord Party members in Ijesaland.
Although the Speaker did not disclose any further action against the senator in the statement, he described the alleged rhetoric as unacceptable in a democratic society.
He warned that inflammatory statements by political leaders could deepen tensions and create conditions capable of undermining peaceful participation in the electoral process.
The Speaker said citizens must be allowed to vote according to their conscience without fear of harassment, intimidation or violence.
‘Democracy Must Not Become a Source of Fear’
Egbedun said the increasing allegations of threats, intimidation and attempts to suppress voters were overshadowing the constitutional rights of citizens.
He urged security agencies to take allegations of political threats seriously and act promptly before they escalate into violence.
According to him, the credibility of Saturday’s election would depend not only on the conduct of polling officials but also on whether citizens were able to approach polling units without fear.
The Speaker maintained that political ambition must never be placed above the safety and fundamental rights of citizens.
He therefore called on the police and other relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and ensure that every eligible voter in Osun can participate in the election freely, peacefully and without intimidation.
Senator Francis Fadahunsi
