The African Democratic Congress has blamed President Bola Tinubu for controversial remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election, saying the President’s earlier “all is fair in politics” comment may have encouraged such actions. ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation while speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, saying […]
The African Democratic Congress has blamed President Bola Tinubu for controversial remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election, saying the President’s earlier “all is fair in politics” comment may have encouraged such actions.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation while speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, saying he would rather blame Tinubu than Fadahunsi for the senator’s comments.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, was recently invited by the Osun State Police Command for questioning over remarks he made at an APC campaign rally in Ilesa. The comments were interpreted as a call for attacks against members of the rival Accord Party, raising concerns over political rhetoric and the conduct of party supporters ahead of Saturday’s election.
Abdullahi argued that Fadahunsi could have interpreted Tinubu’s earlier statement that “all is fair in politics” as approval to pursue electoral victory by any means. He said statements from the President carry significant weight among political supporters and those who look up to him, making it important for the President to consider how his words could be understood during a sensitive election period.
According to the ADC spokesman, the phrase “all is fair in politics” could be interpreted by some political actors as permission to engage in extreme and unacceptable conduct in the pursuit of electoral victory. He argued that a President does not need to say everything because even a broad political statement can be interpreted differently by people who regard the President as their leader.
Tinubu had made the “all is fair in a democratic contest” remark on July 28 while receiving the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The President was speaking against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 general elections and had warned political opponents seeking to unseat him that he would not yield ground without a fight.
Meanwhile, Abdullahi expressed confidence that the ADC could win Saturday’s Osun governorship election if the process is conducted freely and fairly. The party is fielding former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, as its candidate, with Abdullahi maintaining that the party has a strong chance of emerging victorious through a credible electoral process.
However, the ADC spokesman raised concerns over what he described as the “militarisation” of Osun’s political space, saying the deployment of armed security personnel had raised questions about the credibility and fairness of the election. He stressed that security arrangements should not intimidate voters or interfere with their ability to freely make their choice.
With the August 15 election drawing closer, political parties have intensified their campaigns while accusations and counter-accusations continue to dominate the contest. Abdullahi maintained that if the election is free and fair, the ADC is capable of defeating its rivals and winning the governorship poll.