‘I meant kill Accord with votes’ — Fadahunsi clarifies viral comment

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Senator Francis Fadahunsi

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Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, has clarified his controversial “Kill Accord” comment, saying the remark was a political metaphor urging All Progressives Congress supporters to defeat the Accord Party at the ballot box.

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Fadahunsi came under scrutiny after a video circulating on social media showed him speaking in Yoruba while accusing members of the Accord Party of attacking APC supporters and urging those at a gathering in Ilesa to confront Accord supporters.

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The senator was also seen challenging those present to record his remarks and post them on social media.

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The comments were reportedly made while Fadahunsi was addressing APC supporters in Ilesa ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

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However, in a statement issued by his media office in Osogbo on Tuesday and titled, “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC,” the senator said his remarks were not a call for physical violence.

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The statement said Fadahunsi’s comment was “a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.”

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“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” the statement added.

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The senator’s media office further maintained that the remark did not portray Fadahunsi as an advocate of violence against members of the Accord Party or any other political organisation.

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Fadahunsi also urged APC supporters and other political actors to maintain peace and obey the law throughout the electoral process.

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“At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. His consistent position has always been that elections should be decided by the votes of the people and not by force.

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“The Senator, therefore, urges political actors, party supporters and the electorate to conduct themselves peacefully before, during and after the election. He also calls on security agencies to remain professional and ensure that every eligible voter is able to exercise their constitutional right without fear or intimidation.

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“Senator Fadahunsi remains committed to democratic values, issue-based campaigns and a credible electoral process. He believes that the will of the people, freely expressed through the ballot, must always prevail.

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“We, therefore, appeal to members of the public not to misinterpret or deliberately distort the Senator’s comments, as they were clearly intended to encourage electoral victory through the power of the ballot

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and not through violence,” the statement concluded.

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