Reps group demands probe into Fadahunsi, Osun poll violence, deaths

A bipartisan group of members of the House of Representatives, under the Save Democracy Group, has called for a full investigation into the violence and deaths linked to the 2026 Osun State governorship election.

The lawmakers also demanded an investigation into a viral video allegedly showing Senator Francis Fadahunsi making comments interpreted as encouraging supporters to kill members of the Accord Party in Ilesa.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday and signed by the group’s leader, Mr Awaji-Inombek Abiante, alongside Mr Abubakar Kusada and Mr Mansur Jega, the lawmakers said every death arising from political violence must be investigated and those responsible brought to justice.

The group commended Osun voters for participating in the election despite the tension, intimidation and violence that preceded the poll.

It, however, expressed concern over the scale of violence reported before and during the election, noting that the Nigeria Police Force had said in July that it was investigating 30 suspected politically motivated killings linked to the election build-up.

The lawmakers also cited civil society reports documenting 56 politically related violent incidents and 14 fatalities.

They recalled that on Aug. 13, two days before the election, a resident of Esa-Oke was reportedly killed while another person was injured in a shooting.

The group questioned the effectiveness of the extensive security deployment to Osun, arguing that the presence of large numbers of security personnel should translate into effective protection of lives and property.

It therefore called for comprehensive investigations by the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other competent authorities.

On the allegations involving Fadahunsi, the lawmakers said political leaders must be held accountable for statements capable of inflaming an already volatile political environment.

Fadahunsi has reportedly denied inciting violence, but the group said the denial should not prevent authorities from independently examining the video, its context and the circumstances surrounding the remarks.

“Political leaders occupy positions of influence and must understand that words capable of encouraging violence can have deadly consequences in an already volatile environment,” the group said.

It urged the Inspector-General of Police, DSS, NHRC and other relevant authorities to investigate the alleged statement and determine whether any law was breached.

The lawmakers said where evidence established that an offence had been committed, the senator should be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The group also questioned the scale of security deployment for the Osun election, urging the Federal Government to publish the security assessment and deployment framework used for the exercise.

It said the resources deployed for elections should not come at the expense of communities facing terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and attacks on security personnel.

The lawmakers cited recent attacks in Kebbi and Sokoto states, including a reported gun battle in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi where 10 police officers and two civilians were killed.

They also referred to attacks around Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Hussaini Balarabe, was reportedly killed during a gun battle with bandits.

The group said the Osun election should serve as a major test ahead of the 2027 general elections and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a comprehensive post-election review.

It called for improvements in the electoral body’s logistical, technological, administrative and procedural systems to prevent a recurrence of identified weaknesses.

The lawmakers further urged the leadership of the National Assembly to reconvene both chambers for an emergency session to address worsening insecurity, killings of civilians and security personnel, the proposed State Police amendment, budget implementation and declining public confidence in democratic institutions.

They stressed that political violence and insecurity must not become normal features of Nigeria’s democratic process, calling for the prosecution of perpetrators and accountability for political actors found to have incited violence.