Osun Poll: APC rejects incitement claims against Fadahunsi

…as N10bn defamation threat emerges against Senator

By Lateef Ibrahim

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has defended Senator Francis Fadahunsi against allegations that his recent comments were inflammatory, insisting that the lawmaker was quoted out of context.
The party’s defence came as lawyers representing Olajengbesi threatened legal action against Fadahunsi over statements allegedly made during television interviews, with a demand for N10 billion in damages.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Media and Information of the Osun APC, Kola Olabisi, the party accused Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Accord Party of politicizing the controversy ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The APC said it neither supported violence nor jungle justice, but maintained that the controversy surrounding Fadahunsi’s remarks had been amplified by what it described as a doctored version of his comments.
The party also alleged that Adeleke’s criticism of the senator was connected to Fadahunsi’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and recent political developments in the state.
It further pointed to endorsements of the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, by former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Secretary to the State Government Fatai Akinbade and former South-West PDP Deputy Chairman Tajudeen Oladipo, arguing that the endorsements had affected the political dynamics ahead of the election.
The APC also accused the state government of failing to adequately respond to alleged killings involving its members and supporters in Ijesaland, while questioning the governor’s handling of the security situation.
Despite its defence of Fadahunsi, the party said allegations of threats or incitement should be handled through lawful channels and reiterated that it did not condone violence.
Meanwhile, lawyers representing Olajengbesi have issued a formal letter of demand to Fadahunsi over statements allegedly made during interviews with Viable TV on July 2 and Channels Television’s Politics Today on August 11.
The letter, signed by Hammed Lasisi of Law Corridor, accused the senator of making statements questioning Olajengbesi’s origin and allegedly linking him to cult groups and acts of violence.
The legal team demanded that Fadahunsi retract the statements, issue a public apology and provide a written undertaking not to repeat the allegations within 24 hours of receiving the letter.
The lawyers warned that failure to comply would trigger legal proceedings, including a claim forN10 billion in damages for alleged defamation and injurious falsehood, as well as injunctions, legal costs and other remedies available under the law.
The controversy comes just days before the Osun governorship election, heightening political tensions among the major parties and their supporters.