The senator representing Osun East senatorial district, Francis Fadahunsi, has said his statement was misinterpreted after the federal lawmaker, in a viral video, instructed the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters to kill any Accord Party members in Ilesa, Osun State, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. 

Mr Fadahunsi, while addressing supporters on Tuesday, was heard saying, “If you see any Accord Party member in Ilesa from now on to the day of the election, kill them.”

The statement triggered reactions from Governor Ademola Adeleke’s campaign council and many Nigerians who accused the federal lawmaker of inciting people to violence.

However, Mr Fadahunsi, in a Channels TV interview, denied preaching violence.

“I told them this shows that they are weak and cannot win. They should shut them down by their votes; they should kill them by their votes,” the politician stated.

Mr Fadahunsi stated that the video was deliberately edited to distort his statement.

He added, “The video was deliberately edited to distort what I actually said. What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate. I was referring to the continued violence and attacks against our members in Ilesa and other parts of the state.

“My statement was very clear: if the killings do not stop, we shall also retaliate. We are here to lodge complaints and demand justice. It is unacceptable for human beings to kill fellow human beings the way our members are allegedly being killed in Ilesa.”

The APC chieftain decried the alleged killings of his supporters and constituents, insisting he would continue to defend APC members.

“I stated unequivocally that if our party members are killed again, we will not simply fold our arms and watch. We will defend our people, even if such an incident occurs on election day,” the politician noted.

Meanwhile, Mr Adeleke’s campaign council has demanded Mr Fadahunsi’s immediate arrest over his threat to kill its members, describing the statement as disturbing and undemocratic.

“Coming from a serving member of the National Assembly who swore to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we feel compelled to demand that the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Security order the arrest of senator Fadahunsi and prosecute him in accordance with relevant laws of the federation,” it stated.

The development came amid surging violence in the state as citizens prepare to cast their votes on Saturday.