The Accord Party has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi over an alleged call for the killing of its supporters ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

The party made the demand in reaction to a viral video in which Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, was heard addressing members of the All Progressives Congress during a campaign in Ilesha.

In the video, the senator urged APC supporters to confront members of the Accord Party if they encountered them before the election.

“If we hear of Accord Party in Ilesha, there will be trouble. We will all come out and vote. Please record me. We are here, and between now and the election, if we see anyone from the Accord Party, we will kill them,” he said.

However, Fadahunsi later clarified through his media office that his comment was intended as a call for supporters to reject the Accord Party overwhelmingly at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Accord Party National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, described the senator’s reported remarks as “outrageous and reprehensible,” warning that they could heighten political tension ahead of the poll.

The party called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to immediately investigate the statement, arrest and prosecute Fadahunsi if found culpable, and rein in his supporters to prevent violence before and during the election.

“For a sitting senator to condescend so low to publicly threaten the lives of fellow compatriots days to the gubernatorial poll in the state is unjust and unacceptable,” the statement said.

Accord also appealed to the international community, including the European Union, United States and United Kingdom missions, as well as the African Union and ECOWAS, to monitor developments in Osun and condemn actions capable of undermining the electoral process.

The party further alleged that more than 60 of its members had been arrested and detained in Abuja and Nasarawa State in an alleged attempt to prevent them from participating in the election.

It consequently called for the release of the detained members and an end to what it described as further arrests of its leaders and supporters.

“Accord prepares for an election, not war. The political ambition of anybody is not worth the blood of fellow citizens,” the party said.

The party urged Osun residents to participate freely in Saturday’s election and called for a peaceful, credible and inclusive electoral process.

It also appealed to voters to support its candidate, Governor Ademola Adeleke, whom it described as a trusted leader capable of continuing his work in the state.