The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has blamed President Bola Tinubu for remarks attributed to the senator representing Osun East, Francis Fadahunsi, ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Abdullahi, who spoke during an interview on Arise News on Wednesday, argued that Fadahunsi might have interpreted the President’s earlier comment that “all is fair in politics” as a licence for political actors to employ any means necessary to secure victory.
“I don’t want to blame Senator Fadahunsi. I blame President Bola Tinubu. He got his imprimatur for what he said from President Bola Tinubu. He got his authorisation from President Bola Tinubu,” Abdullahi said.
Fadahunsi was recently invited by the Osun State Police Command for questioning over comments he made at an All Progressives Congress campaign rally in Ilesa, which were interpreted as encouraging attacks against supporters of the rival Accord Party.
Abdullahi said presidential statements could have significant implications when interpreted by political supporters, particularly during a tense electoral contest.
He said, “When the President of the Federal Republic says ‘all is fair in politics,’ it means that you can maim, you can kill, you can steal, you can do whatever it takes, just deliver victory.
“A president doesn’t need to say everything. When a president says ‘all is fair in politics,’ you are authorising any kind of behaviour. A subordinate, someone who looks up to you, can interpret it anywhere they like.”
Tinubu had, on July 28, while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, told political opponents seeking to defeat him in the 2027 election that he would not back down without a fight, describing the contest as one in which “all is fair in a democratic contest.”
The statement came as political parties intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections and stepped up mobilisation across the country.
Meanwhile, Abdullahi expressed optimism that the ADC could emerge victorious in Saturday’s Osun governorship election, with its candidate, Najeem Salaam, on the ballot.
He, however, raised concerns over what he described as the “militarisation” of the state’s political environment, arguing that the deployment of armed security personnel could undermine confidence in the electoral process.
“If this is going to be a free and fair election, ADC will win this election,” Abdullahi said.