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Barely 24hours to the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026, the state government has initiated legal action seeking to compel the Nigeria Police Force to investigate statements attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, which allegedly called for violence against members and supporters of the Accord Party.

In the suit filed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, on behalf of the state, the government is seeking an Order of Mandamus compelling the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, to investigate the alleged inciting statements contained in a circulating video.

The suit, dated August 12, 2026, was filed at the Osogbo Division of the Osun State High Court.

The Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police are listed as the first and second respondents, respectively, while Senator Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, is named as the Person Affected/Interested Party.

The video allegedly shows Senator Fadahunsi addressing a political gathering in front of the Owa Obokun’s Palace in Ilesha, where he is alleged to have made statements calling for violence against members of the Accord Party.

According to the court documents, the alleged remarks included a call for APC members to kill Accord Party members wherever they encountered them, as well as threats involving their wives and children.

The applicant further alleges that the senator called for Accord Party members to be chased out of hotels and warned that the governorship election would not hold if Accord Party members resisted APC members.

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However, the Attorney-General makes clear that the application is not asking the court to determine Senator Fadahunsi’s criminal guilt.

Rather, the state wants the police compelled to investigate the allegations, secure and preserve the electronic evidence, and take lawful preventive measures where necessary.

The application specifically seeks the complete and unedited version of the video, its authentication and forensic examination, as well as an investigation into its location, date, audience, sponsors, publishers, circulators and other persons connected with the alleged statements.

The documents state that the video was obtained from Facebook on August 11, 2026, by Nurudeen Kareem, Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on Legal Matters, who deposed to the supporting affidavit and provided a certificate of compliance relating to the electronic evidence.

The Attorney-General argues that the police have a statutory responsibility to prevent and detect crime, maintain public order, and protect lives and property, adding that the alleged statements, if authenticated, could amount to serious criminal conduct and threaten electoral peace.

The state is also asking the court to compel the police to take preventive measures to protect Accord Party members, supporters, candidates, agents and officials, as well as voters and other residents who may be endangered by the alleged incitement.

It further wants the police to submit a comprehensive report on the steps taken in compliance with any order of the court within 48 hours, or within such other period as the court may direct.

In its written address, the state argues that “time is of the absolute essence”, given the August 15 governorship election.

It contends that any delay in the investigation, preservation of evidence and preventive policing could expose innocent citizens to avoidable danger, potentially resulting in loss of life and irreparable harm.

The Attorney-General maintains that the reliefs sought are preventive, rather than an invitation to the court to determine Senator Fadahunsi’s guilt, and asks the court to compel the police to perform their statutory duties in the interest of public safety, electoral peace and the rule of law.

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President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has assured the people of Osun State that adequate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure a peaceful and credible governorship election scheduled for Saturday.

Akpabio, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally in Osogbo, urged residents to come out in large numbers and exercise their constitutional right without fear or intimidation.

He assured voters that they were free to vote for candidates of their choice, while urging them to make what he described as a wise choice by supporting the APC candidate, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO.

“Feel very free to cast your votes for the candidate of your choice. My advice, however, is that you choose wisely because there is a need to link Osun State to the centre. We are waiting for Osun to join us,” Akpabio said.

He added that nobody would molest voters during the exercise, noting that such incidents could only occur on social media and not at the polling units.

The Senate President said the impressive turnout at the rally demonstrated the growing strength and acceptance of the APC in Osun State, expressing confidence that the party would emerge victorious at the poll.

He noted that the APC campaign had attracted prominent political figures, including former Osun State Governor and former Interim National Chairman of the party, Pa Bisi Akande; former National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; Senator Fadahunsi and other party leaders.

Akpabio also acknowledged the support of opposition figures for the APC candidate, particularly former Osun State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as well as the leadership of the Accord Party in the state.

According to him, the support reflected a broader desire among stakeholders for a new direction and greater development in Osun State.

The Senate President said Osun deserved improved infrastructure and greater development, charging Oyebamiji to make the transformation of the state a priority from his first day in office if elected.

He said the incoming administration should focus on providing quality infrastructure and delivering tangible dividends of democracy to the people.

Akpabio urged the people of Osun to maintain peace before, during and after the election, stressing that the exercise offered them an opportunity to determine the future direction of the state.

“The message to the people of Osun is clear: come out peacefully on Saturday, exercise your franchise and choose a future of greater development, stronger opportunities and closer alignment with the centre,” he said.

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Atakumosa East/West State Constituency of Osun State, Hon. Babatunde Komolafe Festus, has reportedly been arrested by Nigerian Navy personnel over alleged possession of a firearm.

Komolafe was reportedly apprehended on Thursday in Ifewara, his hometown, while travelling in an APC campaign vehicle alongside other party supporters.

Sources said the arrest followed a routine search by Navy personnel, during which a rifle was allegedly found inside the vehicle.

“He was arrested today after a routine search by Navy officials exposed him and other supporters with a gun. They were in the campaign vehicle of APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji when they were caught,” a source said.

A video obtained in connection with the incident showed Navy personnel parading the individuals who were reportedly apprehended.

The development comes about 48 hours before the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, amid heightened political tension and concerns over possible violence and intimidation during the poll.

The reported arrest also comes days after controversial remarks attributed to an APC chieftain in Osun State, Mutali Adisa, the Seriki of Ikire.

Adisa had reportedly warned residents of Ikire who were unwilling to vote for APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, not to attempt to cross a “gutter” in the town on election day.

Speaking to APC supporters in Ikire, Oyebamiji’s hometown, Adisa expressed confidence that the party’s candidate would win the election, saying Oyebamiji had already secured victory and only needed a strong percentage of votes from the community.

“We are sure of victory given all the works we have done in the campaign. Ambo (referring to the APC candidate) is sure of victory, what he needs is percentage in Ikire, he has won already,” he said.

He subsequently issued what appeared to be a warning to residents who might not support the APC candidate.

“We should however tell those who are not willing to vote for Ambo the truth, they should not even try to cross the gutter on election day in Ikire,” Adisa said in a video.

The remarks have generated concerns among political stakeholders and civil society groups, particularly with the governorship election just days away.

The reported arrest of Komolafe and other APC supporters over alleged possession of a firearm has further heightened concerns about security and the activities of political actors ahead of the election.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju reportedly disclosed on Wednesday that he and his colleagues had petitioned the governments of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada to consider visa restrictions against Senator Francis Fadahunsi over alleged involvement in activities linked to violence against members of the Accord Party ahead of the election.

The allegations against Fadahunsi remain subject to due process and should not be treated as established fact.

The latest development is expected to increase scrutiny of political activities, campaign conduct and security arrangements ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election.