The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has accused the All Progressives Congress, APC, of treating the August 15 Osun State governorship election as a “do-or-die” affair.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation on Wednesday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time.
Abdullahi also criticised the controversial remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, who was captured in a viral video making comments interpreted as a call for violence against members of the Accord Party.
Fadahunsi later denied calling for anyone to be killed, saying his comments were taken out of context and that he was referring to defeating the Accord Party politically.
However, Abdullahi maintained that the senator’s words should not be dismissed as a mere metaphor.
“The Osun election is a do-or-die affair to the APC. Senator Fadahunsi’s ‘go and kill them’ comment was not a metaphor,” he said.
The ADC spokesman further alleged that the senator’s remarks were influenced by the presidency, claiming that Fadahunsi had received authorisation from President Bola Tinubu.
“I don’t blame the senator for saying what he said; I blame the president because he got his authorisation from the president,” Abdullahi alleged.
He also accused the President of encouraging an atmosphere where political actors could go to any length to secure electoral victory.
The allegations come amid heightened political tension in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with political parties trading accusations over violence, intimidation and the conduct of the poll.
