The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of creating an atmosphere that could have encouraged the controversial comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, August 13, 2026, Abdullahi said he did not hold Fadahunsi solely responsible for the remarks, arguing that the senator may have interpreted the President’s earlier statement that “all is fair in politics” as a signal that any action aimed at securing electoral victory was acceptable.
Abdullahi said the senator could have taken the President’s comment as authorisation for the statement that later generated public controversy.
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 by critics as encouraging attacks on members of the rival Accord Party.
Explaining his position, Abdullahi argued that when a president makes a statement suggesting that all is fair in politics, political actors may interpret it as permission to engage in conduct that should not be tolerated in a democratic process.
He said such remarks from a president can be understood differently by subordinates and supporters, who may extend the meaning beyond what was intended.
Tinubu had made the comment on July 28, 2026, while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. During the meeting, the President said he would not surrender political ground to opponents ahead of the 2027 general elections and added that “all is fair in a democratic contest.”
The statement came as political parties intensified preparations and realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
Abdullahi also expressed confidence in the ADC’s chances in the Osun governorship election, where the party is fielding Najeem Salaam as its candidate.
He maintained that the ADC could win the election if the process is conducted in a free and fair manner.
However, he raised concerns about what he described as the militarisation of the political environment in Osun State, saying the deployment of armed security personnel had created doubts about the credibility of the election.
According to him, a genuinely free and fair election would give the ADC a strong opportunity to emerge victorious in Saturday’s poll.
