The senator’s polling-unit comments have drawn a sharp response from the Imole Campaign Council as voting continues across Osun
Senator Francis Fadahunsi has come under fresh scrutiny in Osun State after comments he made while addressing supporters at his polling unit during the governorship election on Saturday, August 15, 2026, prompted accusations from the Imole Campaign Council that he was attempting to influence voters.
Also read: Court orders probe of Fadahunsi over Osun threat
A video circulating from the polling location shows Fadahunsi telling supporters to “monitor their ballot” before adding, “Whoever does not vote appropriately…” and continuing with further instructions.
The context and intended meaning of the full remarks could not be independently established from the footage available.
The incident nevertheless triggered a strong reaction from the Imole Campaign Council, which accused the senator of making inappropriate comments during an ongoing electoral process.
The council’s spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, described the remarks as “scandalous, unacceptable and undemocratic” and called on security agencies to intervene.
The latest controversy adds to scrutiny surrounding Fadahunsi’s conduct during the election period, following an earlier incident that resulted in his questioning by the Osun State Police Command.
Fadahunsi had previously faced backlash over comments made at a campaign gathering in Ilesa, where he was accused of telling supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party.
The remark generated widespread criticism and prompted the police to invite the senator for questioning.
Fadahunsi subsequently clarified that he had used the word figuratively, explaining that he meant his supporters should defeat the Accord Party politically at the ballot box rather than physically attack its members.
The earlier comments also attracted attention from Amnesty International Nigeria, which called for accountability and urged authorities to investigate allegations of political incitement.
Against that backdrop, the latest Fadahunsi Osun remarks have revived concerns about the language used by political actors during an election in which tensions have remained high.
The senator’s latest comments, however, should be considered in their full context, and the available video does not independently establish whether he intended to direct supporters towards any unlawful conduct.
Olajengbesi’s allegations likewise represent the position of the Imole Campaign Council and have not been independently verified.
With voting underway across Osun, attention is now likely to remain on how political actors and their supporters conduct themselves during voting, counting and collation.
The episode underscores the delicate balance between political mobilisation and conduct that could be perceived as interference with voters, particularly in a closely watched governorship contest.
Also read: Osun senator Fadahunsi freed after police questioning
For now, the central question surrounding Fadahunsi’s latest intervention is whether his words amounted to routine encouragement for supporters to protect their votes or crossed into inappropriate influence during the electoral process.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
