The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has connected President Bola Tinubu’s current political rhetoric to the contentious remarks made by Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
Speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, the party’s national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said he believed Fadahunsi misinterpreted the president’s recent statement that “all is fair in politics” as permission for political actors to do whatever it took to win elections.
“I don’t want to blame Senator Fadahunsi. I blame President Bola Tinubu. He got his imprimatur for what he said from President Bola Tinubu. He got his authorization from President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
Fadahunsi was recently questioned by the Osun State Police Command about comments he made at an APC campaign rally in Ilesa that were perceived as urging his followers to harm Accord Party members.
Abdullahi contended that words made by political leaders could impact how their supporters understand the boundaries of permissible behavior during elections.
“When the president of the Federal Republic says ‘all is fair in politics,’ it means that you can maim, you can kill, you can steal, you can do whatever it takes, just deliver victory,” he said.
“A president doesn’t need to say everything. When a president says ‘all is fair in politics,’ you are authorizing any kind of behavior. A subordinate, someone who looks up to you, can interpret it anywhere they like,” Abdullahi added.
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Tinubu made the comment on July 28 when hosting the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja for a discussion on the 2027 political struggle.
Meanwhile, Abdullahi expressed confidence that the ADC will win Saturday’s Osun election if it is conducted transparently.
The party’s candidate, Najeem Salaam, is up against other significant contenders, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
“If this is going to be a free and fair election, ADC will win this election,” Abdullahi said.
He also condemned the heavy presence of armed security personnel in the state ahead of the poll, describing the development as “militarization” of Osun’s political space and raising concerns about its potential impact on the credibility of the election.
