APC disqualification call grows as Isaac Fayose urges action over Senator Fadahunsi’s controversial remarks ahead of the August 15 Osun election
Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has called for the All Progressives Congress to face disqualification from the Osun governorship election in Osun State on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, following controversy over remarks attributed to APC Senator Francis Fadahunsi.
Also read: Osun Election: Oyebamiji Declares Himself Incoming Governor
Fayose made the demand in a video shared on his verified Facebook page, reacting to a viral recording in which Fadahunsi was reported to have told supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s election.
The remarks have triggered political condemnation and a police investigation just three days before voters go to the polls.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, has since rejected the interpretation that he was advocating physical violence.
In a statement issued through his media office, the senator said his reference to “killing Accord” was political and metaphorical, meaning that APC supporters should defeat the party through their votes.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical,” Fadahunsi’s media office said.
Fadahunsi also said he had never supported violence or intimidation against Accord members or supporters and urged political actors to maintain peace before, during and after the election.
The explanation, however, has not ended the controversy.
The Osun State Police Command has summoned Fadahunsi over the viral remarks. Multiple reports said the senator was asked to appear before the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo to clarify the comments.
Fayose’s intervention has added a political dimension to the unfolding investigation.
He argued that the response to Fadahunsi’s remarks exposed what he described as unequal treatment under Nigeria’s justice system, particularly between political elites and ordinary citizens.
“In a sane country, APC Osun State would be disqualified,” Fayose said.
He compared the controversy with the arrest of social media personality DJ Chicken over a song he said was critical, arguing that the different responses suggested a double standard in law enforcement.
“What’s the difference between this senator and DJ Chicken? Same offence, but one can get away with it while the other one was arrested,” Fayose said.
Fayose also directed criticism at the police and Department of State Services, saying security agencies should clarify their position on the controversy.
“DSS and police, we are still waiting for you guys to make statements,” he said, adding that the senator should be held responsible if violence occurred during Saturday’s election.
The APC disqualification demand comes as Osun enters the final days of an already closely watched governorship contest.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed August 15, 2026, for the election.
Fourteen candidates are on the final list released by the commission, with APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and Accord candidate Ademola Adeleke among the leading contenders.
Adeleke, the incumbent governor, is seeking another term under the Accord platform, while Oyebamiji is attempting to return the APC to the Osun Government House.
The controversy involving Fadahunsi has therefore emerged at a particularly sensitive point in the campaign, when parties are making their final appeals to voters and security agencies are preparing for election day.
There is, however, an important distinction between a political demand for a party’s disqualification and an established electoral sanction.
Fayose’s call does not mean that the APC has been disqualified. Any decision affecting a party’s eligibility would have to come through the appropriate legal or electoral process.
INEC’s published election information confirms that the APC remains among the parties contesting the August 15 poll, with Oyebamiji listed as its governorship candidate.
The immediate focus is consequently likely to remain on the police inquiry into Fadahunsi’s comments and the broader efforts to keep the election peaceful.
For Fayose, the issue is one of accountability. For Fadahunsi, the central argument is that his language was political rather than a call for violence.
With voters preparing to choose among 14 candidates, the dispute has nevertheless placed campaign rhetoric and the conduct of political actors under renewed scrutiny.
Also read: Osun Election: Oyebamiji Declares Himself Incoming Governor
The coming days will show whether Fadahunsi’s explanation is sufficient to calm the controversy or whether the incident will generate further demands for action against the APC and its officials.
