The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has linked President Bola Tinubu’s recent political rhetoric to the controversial comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

Speaking on Arise News on Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said he believed Fadahunsi may have taken the President’s recent assertion that “all is fair in politics” as a licence for political actors to do whatever was necessary to win elections.

“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,” he said.

Fadahunsi was recently questioned by the Osun State Police Command over comments he made at an APC campaign rally in Ilesa, which were interpreted as encouraging his supporters to attack members of the Accord Party.

Abdullahi argued that statements made by political leaders could influence how their followers interpret the limits of acceptable conduct during elections.

“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,” he said.

“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,” Abdullahi added.

Tinubu had made the remark on July 28 while hosting the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, during a discussion on the 2027 political contest.

Meanwhile, Abdullahi expressed optimism that the ADC could win Saturday’s Osun election if the exercise is conducted transparently.

The party’s candidate, Najeem Salaam, is contesting against other major candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji.

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

He also criticised the presence of heavily armed security personnel in the state ahead of the poll, describing the development as “militarisation” of Osun’s political space and raising concerns about its potential impact on the credibility of the election.