A human rights and anti-corruption advocacy organisation, Speak Out for Justice Advocacy Ltd/GTE (SOJA), has called for immediate protection of political actors and voters in Osun State and a thorough investigation into an alleged call for the killing of Accord Party members ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
SOJA, in a statement issued on Thursday, urged security agencies to intensify preventive measures across political flashpoints in the state following a video allegedly showing Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, making remarks at a political gathering in Ilesa that could be interpreted as an incitement to violence against members of the Accord Party.
The organisation acknowledged that Fadahunsi subsequently honoured a police invitation and denied calling for anyone to be physically killed. According to SOJA, the senator explained that his use of the word “killing” was intended to mean defeating his political opponents through votes.
SOJA said it would not prejudge the outcome of the police investigation, stressing that the authenticity, context and meaning of the controversial statement must be objectively established by competent authorities.
It, however, maintained that the senator’s explanation should not preclude a full investigation, particularly given the heightened political atmosphere ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
“Where words capable of being reasonably understood as a call to violence against identifiable political opponents are publicly uttered in an atmosphere of political tension, the State has a responsibility to investigate the circumstances thoroughly and to take reasonable measures to prevent the words from translating into violence,” the group said.
SOJA warned political parties and their supporters against transforming electoral competition into intimidation, bloodshed and physical attacks, stressing that political contests in a constitutional democracy should be settled through campaigns, policies, ideas and the ballot box.
“No political party owns Nigeria. No politician owns Osun State. No political office confers a licence to threaten, intimidate, assault or kill political opponents,” it said.
The organisation called for equal protection for members and supporters of the Accord Party, APC, PDP and other legally recognised political parties, warning against selective enforcement or the deployment of security agencies to intimidate opposition supporters.
It urged the Federal Government, Osun State Government, Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to undertake a comprehensive examination of the disputed video.
Specifically, SOJA asked investigators to establish the source and authenticity of the recording, review the complete footage and surrounding statements, and determine whether any offence was committed under Nigerian law.
Where evidence establishes criminal conduct, the organisation said prosecution should follow in accordance with due process, insisting that the investigation must be free from political interference, intimidation and selective application of the law.
SOJA also drew attention to relevant provisions of the Electoral Act concerning inflammatory campaign language and threats of violence, urging authorities to assess the reported statement within the framework of electoral and other applicable laws.
The group separately appealed to Fadahunsi, as a serving senator, to make an unequivocal public declaration rejecting political violence and clarify that he neither supports nor condones the killing, assault, intimidation or harassment of Accord Party members or any Nigerian on account of political affiliation.
“If his assertion that he meant ‘kill them with votes’ represents the true meaning of his words, then SOJA urges him to state this clearly and publicly and to encourage his supporters to defeat their political opponents only through lawful democratic means and the ballot box,” it said.
The advocacy group also urged political parties and their supporters to exercise restraint and reject retaliation and political thuggery, warning that inflammatory statements can have consequences beyond their immediate audience when repeated by supporters or interpreted as directives by political actors.
“No perceived provocation justifies revenge. No electoral ambition justifies murder. No political office is worth a human life. No election victory is worth the destruction of Osun State,” SOJA said.
The group stressed that its position was not targeted at any particular political party, maintaining that the lives of Nigerians must not be valued according to political affiliation.
“We condemn the killing of APC members. We condemn the killing of Accord Party members. We condemn the killing of PDP members. We condemn the killing of supporters of every political party,” it said.
With the election approaching, SOJA urged security agencies to remain politically neutral and prioritise the protection of citizens, while calling on authorities to take preventive action where credible threats to lives exist.
“The forthcoming Osun Governorship Election must be an exercise in democracy, not a theatre of violence,” the organisation said.
“Political leaders must compete for votes, not lives. Security agencies must protect citizens, not political interests. Law enforcement must investigate credible threats before they become tragedies.”
SOJA urged the people of Osun State to reject violence and allow the ballot to determine the next governor.
“Let the votes decide. Let the law prevail. Let every citizen live,” it said.
