Abuja magistrate gives police two weeks to investigate alleged remarks targeting Accord members ahead of Saturday’s governorship election

A Magistrate’s Court sitting in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, on Thursday, August 13, 2026, directed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 7, to investigate Senator Francis Fadahunsi over alleged comments calling for violence against Accord Party members ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

Also read: Osun senator Fadahunsi freed after police questioning

Presiding Magistrate II, Farida Ibrahim, ordered the police to investigate the criminal complaint filed by Pelumi Olajengbesi, campaign spokesman for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, and submit a report within two weeks.

The directive was contained in a letter dated August 13 and signed by the court’s Registrar, Abdulraham Yusuf. It was issued under Section 89(5) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The development adds a significant legal dimension to tensions surrounding the August 15 election, with separate legal action also being pursued by the Osun State Government over the same allegations.

Olajengbesi’s complaint followed the circulation of a viral video in which Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, was allegedly heard making remarks interpreted as encouraging supporters of the All Progressives Congress to attack members of the Accord Party.

The allegations have not been judicially established, and the police investigation is expected to determine the authenticity and context of the remarks before any further action is taken.

The matter has attracted heightened attention because of the sensitivity surrounding electoral security in Osun, where political tensions have intensified in the final days before the poll.

The Osun State Government separately filed suit HOS/M.157/26 at the Osogbo Judicial Division of the Osun State High Court, seeking an order compelling the Inspector-General of Police and the state Commissioner of Police to investigate the alleged statements.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, SAN, filed the application on August 12, with Fadahunsi listed as the affected or interested party.

According to the state’s application, the video allegedly contains remarks calling on APC members to “kill Accord Party members anywhere they see them”, as well as alleged threats involving their wives and children.

The government has asked the police to obtain, preserve and forensically examine the complete and unedited version of the video to establish whether it has been altered or edited.

It also wants investigators to establish the circumstances surrounding the recording and circulation of the material, including its location, date, audience and persons connected with its publication. (Channels Television)

The state argued that, if authenticated, the alleged comments could have serious implications for public safety and could contribute to political violence, intimidation and disorder during the election period.

The application further seeks preventive measures to protect Accord candidates, supporters, agents and voters who may be at risk.

The state government stressed that the case was not asking the court to determine Fadahunsi’s criminal guilt, but to compel the police to discharge their statutory responsibility to investigate an alleged threat and prevent possible violence.

The senator has also faced a separate legal challenge from Olajengbesi over allegations made during television interviews.

In a letter dated August 12, Olajengbesi’s lawyer, Hammed Lasisi, demanded a retraction and public apology over statements allegedly made by Fadahunsi during appearances on Viable TV and Channels Television’s Politics Today.

The lawyer alleged that Fadahunsi accused Olajengbesi of sponsoring thugs and members of the Eiye and Aye groups. Olajengbesi has denied the allegations and threatened a N10bn defamation and injurious falsehood suit.

The dispute comes against the backdrop of broader concerns over political violence in Osun ahead of Saturday’s election.

Groups including the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation and the National Conscience Party have also called for a thorough investigation into the allegations against Fadahunsi.

The police had earlier summoned Fadahunsi over the alleged comments, further widening the official response to the controversy.

For the moment, the Abuja magistrate’s directive places the alleged remarks within a formal investigative process. The outcome of the police inquiry will determine whether the allegations warrant further criminal proceedings.

Also read: Fadahunsi: ‘kill Accord’ means defeat party with votes

With voters due to head to the polls on Saturday, the unfolding legal proceedings have added another layer to an already closely watched election, where authorities and political actors face renewed pressure to ensure that competition does not spill into violence.