By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of treating the Osun governorship election as a do-or-die contest, alleging that its rhetoric suggests bloodshed could be the price for retaining political power.

The party said the increasingly combative tone around the election was dangerous, stressing that elections should offer citizens a peaceful way to choose their leaders, rather than turn political contests into battles where threats and intimidation overshadow the ballot.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, the PDP demanded an investigation into remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi and other alleged threats to a peaceful and transparent election in Osun.

“We specifically demand a transparent investigation of the Senator Fadahunsi incident and other threats to peaceful and transparent elections in Osun State,” the party said.

The PDP was reacting to a viral video in which Fadahunsi was allegedly heard making a statement about dealing with political opponents before and on election day.

“So, we have come to tell you, up till the day of the election, if we see them, it is killing,” Fadahunsi was quoted as saying.

The opposition party said the remark was part of a wider pattern of inflammatory rhetoric by the ruling party and its presidential candidate, warning that such language was pushing the country’s political temperature to dangerous levels.

“These and many more hurtful rhetorics have been deployed by the ruling party unapologetically, and this has raised the political temperature of the country to unprecedented fever-pitch levels,” the PDP said.

It warned that threats, intimidation and attempts to silence opposition voices could erode public confidence in elections and undermine the democratic process.

The party called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC and its officials to moderate their political communication and ensure that the Osun election is determined by voters rather than fear or coercion.

“Civility must take centre stage in our political communication, and the elections must be a true reflection of the will of the people, freely given through the ballot,” it said.

The PDP maintained that respecting the choice of voters was essential to preserving the credibility of the election and the survival of democracy.

“This is the irreducible minimum, which the government and all political parties must adhere to, in the interest of the survival of democracy and the country,” the party said.