By John Dike, Osogbo
The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, and the leadership of Organised Labour in Osun State have separately raised concerns over alleged threats of electoral violence, voter intimidation and incitement ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, calling on security agencies to take immediate action to protect lives and preserve the integrity of the electoral process.
Addressing a world press conference on Wednesday, Egbedun appealed to the international community, diplomatic partners, election observers and the media to closely monitor developments in Osun State, warning that what should ordinarily be a celebration of democracy was being overshadowed by allegations of threats, intimidation and attempts to suppress voters.
According to the Speaker, recent developments have generated widespread anxiety among residents and raised concerns about the safety of voters as the state prepares to elect its next governor.
Egbedun expressed particular concern over alleged threats attributed to Senator Ade Fadahunsi and Mr. Francis Eniade, the APC House of Representatives candidate for Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, accusing them of making statements capable of inciting violence against political opponents.
He said he was especially troubled by a viral video allegedly made by Eniade in which, according to him, the APC candidate specifically mentioned his name and issued threats against him and other eligible voters within the constituency.
The Speaker described the alleged comments as more than ordinary political rhetoric, insisting they raised serious concerns about threats to life, voter intimidation and the promotion of political violence.
“As an elected representative of the people, I will not be intimidated by such threats, and neither should any citizen be forced to live in fear because of his or her political preference,” he said.
“The right to vote freely and peacefully is guaranteed by the Constitution, and no candidate or political actor has the authority to threaten citizens for exercising that right.”
Egbedun disclosed that his legal team had already submitted a formal petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tunji Disu, and other relevant authorities seeking an investigation into the alleged threats.
He urged the Inspector-General of Police to immediately order the arrest and investigation of Francis Eniade, expressing confidence that the police would thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
According to him, the issue transcends politics and is fundamentally about protecting lives, enforcing the law and preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
“No threat to life should be treated lightly, irrespective of the political party or individual involved,” he stated.
The Speaker maintained that the people of Osun would resist any attempt to intimidate or suppress voters through peaceful, lawful and democratic means.
He stressed that security agencies must intervene before threats escalate into violence, insisting that all allegations should be thoroughly investigated and appropriate legal action taken wherever criminal conduct is established.
Egbedun also challenged the police to demonstrate impartiality in enforcing the law, asking whether similar alleged threats from another political party would have attracted a different response.
“We demand equal protection under the law. The law must not have one face for APC and another face for the opposition,” he said.
“The Nigerian Police Force belongs to the Nigerian people. It does not belong to APC, Accord, ADC or any other political party.”
He urged residents not to be intimidated by threats or political tension but to come out peacefully on election day to exercise their constitutional rights.
The Speaker encouraged supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid, as well as all eligible voters, to participate peacefully in the election, emphasizing that votes should determine the outcome rather than violence.
“Your vote is your voice. Your vote is your power. Vote, don’t fight,” he said.
Egbedun assured the people that democratic institutions would continue to pursue lawful means of protecting citizens and ensuring that every legitimate vote counts.
He appealed to residents to remain peaceful, vigilant and law-abiding throughout the electoral process while insisting that Osun State belongs to all its people and that democracy must prevail over intimidation and violence.
In a related development, the leadership of Organised Labour in Osun State also demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi over what it described as alleged incitement to violence and genocide ahead of the election.
The demand was contained in a joint statement signed by the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade (Dr.) Christopher A. Arapasopo; the Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bimbo Fasasi; and the Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC), Comrade Lekan Adediran.
The labour movement
expressed deep concern over what it described as “terrifying political developments” unfolding in the state just days before the poll, warning that workers and their families must not become casualties of political violence.
According to Organised Labour, Osun State belongs to workers, artisans, market women and other law-abiding citizens who deserve to live and work in a peaceful environment while freely exercising their democratic rights.
The group alleged that a viral video showed Senator Fadahunsi making comments that encouraged violence against political opponents and their families in Ijeshaland.
It further claimed that the senator allegedly urged supporters to target political opponents and, where they could not be found, attack their wives and children.
Describing the alleged remarks as a grave threat to national security, Organised Labour said such statements went beyond politics and amounted to incitement to genocide.
“This is not politics; this is a national security threat and an incitement to genocide. Workers’ families must not become casualties of desperate politicians,” the statement read.
The labour movement called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to immediately arrest and prosecute the senator, insisting that no individual is above the law.
It also reminded security agencies that their constitutional responsibility is to protect all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation and urged them to remain neutral while ensuring the safety of workers, pensioners and all eligible voters on election day.
Organised Labour further appealed to workers, civil servants, pensioners and residents of the state to remain calm despite the heightened political tension and not allow threats or intimidation to discourage them from exercising their civic responsibilities.
The group urged citizens to come out peacefully to vote for candidates of their choice and warned that it would hold security agencies and any political actors accountable for any breakdown of law and order or harm inflicted on residents before, during or after the election.
