Amnesty International Nigeria has vowed to make Senator Francis Fadahunsi an example in its campaign against impunity and inflammatory rhetoric by politicians, following remarks attributed to him in a viral video ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
In the video, Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, was alleged to have directed his supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party, which has incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke as its governorship candidate.
The senator has, however, denied making any call for physical attacks, insisting that the viral video was edited to distort the meaning of his comment.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, condemned the remarks attributed to Fadahunsi and said the organisation would use the case to challenge what he described as impunity among Nigerian politicians.
“We are going to use him as an example because this is the first time. We had so many other terrible politicians say terrible things ahead of elections, but this one is exceptional. A situation whereby somebody came out on record saying ‘kill them wherever you find them’, I believe that that person does not deserve any peace again because advocacy of hatred is a crime under international law as well as Nigerian laws.
“Therefore, we are going to use this man as an example to show that the impunity by Nigerian politicians cannot continue and we cannot tolerate it again; the people have to hold them to account if the government could not do that,” Sanusi said.
He said Amnesty International Nigeria would also launch an international “name-and-shame” campaign against politicians who advocate electoral violence.
“We will do an international name-and-shame of those advocating for electoral violence. Amnesty International has branches in 150 countries. We will ensure they are named and shamed in those countries and alert their governments to how dangerous these people are,” he said.
Sanusi said holding Fadahunsi and other politicians accountable for statements capable of fuelling violence would send a strong message ahead of the 2027 general elections and help promote peaceful and accountable polls.
The senator was interrogated by the police at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo on Wednesday over the controversial video.