Bolaji Abdullahi, the National Publicity Secretary for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s political rhetoric encouraged Senator Francis Fadahunsi to make inflammatory comments ahead of the Osun State governorship election. Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Abdullahi suggested that Fadahunsi’s controversial statements—which appeared to incite violence against Accord Party members—stemmed from the President’s own assertion that in politics, all is fair.
Senator Fadahunsi recently faced questioning from the Osun State Police Command following reports that he encouraged supporters to target rivals during a campaign event in Ilesa. According to Abdullahi, political figures often interpret broad remarks from the President as an endorsement for aggressive behavior. He argued that when a leader claims that any tactic is acceptable to secure an electoral victory, it signals to subordinates that they are free to use violence or intimidation.
President Tinubu’s original comment was made on July 28 at the Presidential Villa while meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. Abdullahi insisted that such rhetoric undermines the democratic process. Looking toward the upcoming election, the ADC remains hopeful that their candidate, Najeem Salaam, will succeed, provided the process is transparent. However, Abdullahi raised alarms regarding the heavy deployment of security forces, labeling the situation as a militarization of the local political environment that could jeopardize the integrity of the vote.
