OSOGBO, Nigeria — Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing the Osun East Senatorial District, has denied instructing his supporters to harm members of the Accord Party, asserting that a widely circulated video of his campaign speech was manipulated.

Fadahunsi made these clarifications on Wednesday after being interrogated by the police at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo. The video in question had heightened political tensions ahead of Saturday's governorship election.

Arriving at the command around 2:35 p.m., the senator informed investigators that his use of the word "kill" in reference to Accord Party members was political rhetoric. He explained that he meant his supporters should defeat the party through votes, not through physical attacks.

"We have met, and I have told them what I said, not the one manipulated by mischievous interpreters of our language," Fadahunsi told journalists after a closed-door session with the Criminal Investigation Department.

He contended that the full recording of his speech, which he stated lasted approximately 38 minutes, would provide the necessary context that is absent in the online version. "We said, come Saturday, election, we will kill them with our votes," he stated, maintaining that his words were taken out of context and misinterpreted.

Fadahunsi indicated his intention to pursue legal avenues regarding what he described as the manipulation and circulation of the video.

The controversy has escalated political tensions in Osun, where the August 15 governorship election is under scrutiny due to concerns about potential violence and voter intimidation. Fadahunsi asserted that his comments were made in response to alleged attacks on All Progressives Congress (APC) members by suspected thugs in Ilesa and other parts of the state.

Earlier, Governor Ademola Adeleke had strongly condemned the senator's remarks, accusing Fadahunsi of inciting violence and "genocide" against Accord Party members. Adeleke called for a comprehensive investigation and the senator's immediate arrest, labelling the reported comments a national security threat.

Amnesty International also commented on the controversy, urging authorities to hold Fadahunsi accountable for the statements attributed to him. The human rights organization described the comments as potentially inciting violence before the election and called for action against statements advocating for such acts.

The police confirmed that their investigation is ongoing. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu Okokon, verified that Fadahunsi had been interrogated and assured the public that the investigation's outcome would be publicly disclosed upon its conclusion. He also reassured residents that sufficient security measures are in place across Osun to ensure the safety of voters and election officials during Saturday's election.