The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of treating Saturday’s Osun State governorship election as a “do-or-die affair”, alleging that the ruling party is determined to secure victory at all costs.
The allegation came amid mounting controversy over remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, in which he was allegedly heard telling supporters to “go and kill” members of the Accord Party ahead of the August 15 election.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation on Wednesday while speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time, insisting that Fadahunsi’s statement should not be dismissed as a mere metaphor.
According to Abdullahi, the controversy surrounding the senator’s remarks reflects what he described as the high stakes attached to the election by the APC.
“The Osun election is a do-or-die affair to the APC. Senator Fadahunsi’s ‘go and kill them’ comment was not a metaphor,” Abdullahi said.
The ADC spokesman went further, alleging that Fadahunsi’s position had presidential backing.
“I don’t blame the senator for saying what he said; I blame the President because he got his authorisation from the President,” he alleged.
Abdullahi also accused President Bola Tinubu of creating a political environment in which desperate measures could be employed to secure electoral victory.
He alleged that the President’s position that “all is fair in politics” had been interpreted by some political actors as a licence to do whatever was necessary to win elections.
“President Tinubu has said all is fair in politics, and that means you can kill, steal, or do whatever it takes to deliver victory,” Abdullahi alleged.
The allegations, however, remain those of the ADC, while neither the presidency nor President Tinubu was quoted in the report responding to them.
Fadahunsi has rejected the interpretation of the viral video, insisting that he was referring to defeating his political opponents with votes rather than physically attacking or killing them.
The senator was subsequently questioned by the Osun State Police Command over the controversial footage and was later released.
Speaking after his interaction with the police, Fadahunsi maintained that his words had been distorted through what he described as a misleading interpretation of the Yoruba language.
He said his reference to “killing” was figurative and meant overwhelming his opponents at the ballot box.
The controversy has nevertheless added to growing anxiety ahead of Saturday’s election, with political parties and civil society groups raising concerns over alleged threats, intimidation and possible violence.
The ADC has maintained that the Osun election is a crucial test of Nigeria’s democratic credentials, particularly as political parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 general elections.
With just days to the poll, the party urged security agencies to remain neutral and ensure that voters are allowed to cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.
The election pits incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party against his challengers, including the APC candidate, in a contest that has increasingly become charged with allegations and counter-allegations.
The latest controversy has further intensified calls for restraint among politicians and their supporters, with stakeholders warning that inflammatory rhetoric could translate into violence on election day.
For the ADC, however, the central question goes beyond Fadahunsi’s disputed words: whether the political contest in Osun will be decided by voters at the ballot box or by the forces of intimidation and political desperation.