NEWS
Osun East Youths Protest, Begin Recall Push Against Senator Fadahunsi
Youths and constituents of Osun East Senatorial District on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, took to the streets of Ilesa in a peaceful demonstration against Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, accusing the lawmaker of making an inciting comment during the recently concluded 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The protesters, operating under the aegis of the Coalition of Osun East Youths and Concerned Citizens, said the demonstration marked the beginning of efforts to recall the senator from the National Assembly, citing alleged poor representation and concerns over comments attributed to him during the election period.
The protesters, who turned out in large numbers, carried placards bearing various inscriptions as they marched through major parts of Ilesa. The procession commenced at the Enuwa Roundabout before moving through Isokun and the Ilesa Market Square, eventually terminating at the entrance of the Owa-Obokun palace.
The demonstration comes against the backdrop of a viral video in which Fadahunsi was allegedly seen making comments that protesters described as inflammatory. The senator, however, has rejected the allegation, maintaining that the video was doctored by the opposition party as part of an alleged attempt to damage his reputation.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Comrade Olorunfemi Olatunji, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, said the demonstration was not an isolated action but the first phase of a broader campaign to remove Fadahunsi from the Senate.
Olatunji criticised the senator’s performance in office, arguing that his constituents were dissatisfied with his representation and particularly concerned about the statement allegedly made during the 2026 electioneering period.
According to him, “We, under the aegis of the Coalition of Youth and Students with Concerned Citizens of Osun East Senatorial District, are opposed to the reckless statement made by our Senator before the election.
“This protest is the first stage of our actions.
“We are recalling him back home. We are still going to Abuja. All the necessary legal actions to recall him have been prepared, and we will begin them in a few days.
“We have filed the petition, and we are following it with action that his recall process will follow.”
The protesters said their demands were driven not only by the controversy surrounding the alleged statement but also by what they described as inadequate representation of the senatorial district.
They maintained that elected representatives must be accountable to the people and should avoid statements or actions capable of heightening political tension, particularly during sensitive electoral periods.
The protest also attracted the attention of youth leadership in the state, with the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Comrade Akinbode Olakolupo, calling for the immediate arrest of the lawmaker.
Olakolupo urged security agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations surrounding the senator and the broader incidents of political violence associated with the election.
“We demand a transparent, impartial and credible investigation into all credible allegations of incitement, threats, killings and political violence connected to the electoral process by Senator Fadahunsi.
“We urge the police and security operatives to put radical efforts together to recover illegal firearms from political thugs and criminal,“ he said.
The development adds another layer to the post-election political tensions in Osun East, with the protesters vowing to take their campaign beyond Ilesa to Abuja as they pursue the recall process.
The senator’s denial of the allegations and his claim that the viral video was manipulated are likely to remain central to the unfolding controversy as the protesters move ahead with their planned legal and constitutional actions.
For now, the Wednesday demonstration signals a potentially significant political confrontation between Fadahunsi and a section of his constituents, who say they are determined to press their demands through the appropriate legal channels.