…urges police to investigate alleged voter intimidation by Fadahunsi during Saturday’s poll
Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, urged security agencies to investigate alleged voter intimidation involving Senator Francis Fadahunsi during Saturday’s governorship election.
The ICC made this demand after a video emerged purportedly showing the senator addressing supporters at his polling unit during the election.
Adeleke’s campaign council said Fadahunsi was seen addressing All Progressives Congress supporters at Polling Unit 1, NUD Primary School Collation Centre in Ilase-Ijesa, where he allegedly instructed them to monitor how voters cast their ballots.
In the video, Fadahunsi was heard telling supporters to “monitor their ballot” and reportedly adding, “Whoever does not vote appropriately…” before proceeding with further instructions.
The development has drawn criticism from the Adeleke campaign, which alleged that the Senator’s remarks amounted to an attempt to influence voters and interfere with their right to freely choose their preferred candidates.
The Governor’s campaign council’s spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, described the senator’s conduct as “scandalous, unacceptable and undemocratic,” urging security agencies to intervene.
“This is scandalous, unacceptable and undemocratic. The security agencies must immediately stop the voter intimidation by Fadahunsi and his foot soldiers,” Olajengbesi said.
He also recalled the controversy surrounding Fadahunsi’s earlier remarks about members of the Accord Party, which the Senator subsequently clarified as a metaphorical call to defeat the party through votes rather than violence.
Olajengbesi said the latest development was particularly troubling coming after the earlier controversy.
“One would have thought that he had learnt his lessons with his last despicable outing, but alas! A leopard never changes its spot,” he said.
The ICC urged the relevant security authorities to examine the video and take appropriate action if the allegations are established.
