Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has clarified his controversial “kill Accord” comment, saying the statement was a political metaphor urging supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defeat the Accord Party at the ballot box.
A video of the senator speaking in Yoruba to APC supporters in Ilesa ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election recently went viral on social media, sparking widespread reactions.
In the video, Fadahunsi accused members of the Accord Party of attacking APC supporters and appeared to urge those at the gathering to confront supporters of the rival party.
He was also seen challenging members of the audience to record his remarks and share the videos on social media.
In the widely circulated footage, the senator said in Yoruba that the “killing” would continue until election day, a statement that was interpreted by many as a call for violence against members of the Accord Party.
The comment triggered outrage, with several Nigerians and political figures, including Governor Ademola Adeleke, reportedly calling for the senator’s arrest.
However, Fadahunsi later denied making a literal call for the killing of Accord Party supporters.
Speaking in separate interviews with Channels Television and TVC, the senator said his remarks had been taken out of context and were intended to encourage APC supporters to defeat the Accord Party with their votes.
He also claimed that the viral video was manipulated using artificial intelligence.
“What was sent out by Davido and their group is an AI something,” Fadahunsi said in an interview with TVC.
The senator further explained that he spoke in Yoruba and alleged that people who did not understand the language had misinterpreted his words and the parables he used.
Fadahunsi also linked his remarks to recent violence in the state, alleging that people had been killed in the area without any arrests being made.
“When I got to the Oba’s palace today, I led my people there to protest. Last night we lost three, early this morning, they have killed and ran into the bush. No single arrest was made,” he said.
He stressed that he was a father and understood the pain families experience when they lose loved ones.
The clarification comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election, in which the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, is contesting under the platform of the Accord Party.
Fadahunsi maintained that his remarks should not be interpreted as a literal call for violence, but as political language urging voters to defeat the opposing party at the polls.