Tinubu’s ‘all is fair’ remark emboldened Osun senator Fadahunsi — ADC spokesman

The National Publicity Secretary, African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi.

The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, has blamed President Bola Tinubu for the controversial comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

Abdullahi, who spoke on Arise News on Wednesday, said he did not blame Fadahunsi for the remarks, arguing that the senator could have interpreted the President’s earlier comments that “all is fair in politics” as approval for any action aimed at securing electoral 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, 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 that were interpreted as a call for attacks against members of the rival Accord Party.

Explaining his position, Abdullahi said Tinubu’s statement could be interpreted by political actors as giving them latitude to engage in unacceptable conduct in the pursuit of electoral victory.

“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.

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“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,” he said.

On July 28, Tinubu, while receiving the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, warned political opponents seeking to unseat him in 2027 that he would not yield ground without a fight, saying “all is fair in a democratic contest.”

The President’s remark came amid preparations for the 2027 general elections, with political parties already intensifying their activities and positioning for the contest.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi also expressed confidence that the ADC, which is fielding Najeem Salaam as its candidate in the Osun governorship election, could win Saturday’s poll if it is conducted freely and fairly.

He, however, raised concerns over what he described as the “militarisation” of the state’s political space, saying the deployment of armed security personnel had raised questions about the credibility of the election.

“If this is going to be a free and fair election, ADC will win this election,” Abdullahi said.