Amnesty International Nigeria says it will use Francis Fadahunsi Senator as an example of political impunity by naming and shaming the Osun East lawmaker across the 150 countries where the organisation operates over his alleged inciting remarks ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Isa Sanusi, country director of Amnesty International Nigeria, made the disclosure on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday while reacting to a viral video in which Fadahunsi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) senator, allegedly directed supporters to kill members of the Accord Party.
Sanusi said the organisation would intensify its campaign for accountability against the senator, arguing that political leaders must be held responsible for statements capable of triggering violence during elections.
‘We are going to use him as an example. We have had so many terrible politicians say terrible things ahead of the election,’ Sanusi said.
‘But this one is exceptional, a situation where somebody came out on record, saying ‘kill them wherever you find them’.’
His comments come as tension remains high ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election, with political parties and civil society groups raising concerns over the potential for inflammatory rhetoric to translate into electoral violence.
The Osun State Police Command summoned Fadahunsi on Tuesday following the controversy and questioned him for about two hours on Wednesday.
Amnesty International Nigeria had earlier condemned the senator’s alleged remarks, describing them as reckless and warning that authorities have a responsibility to prevent advocacy of hatred that amounts to incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.
Sanusi said the organisation would continue to push for legal and political accountability, stressing that the use of inflammatory language by politicians should no longer be dismissed as campaign rhetoric.
‘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,’ he said.
‘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 controversy has added to growing scrutiny of political conduct ahead of the election, particularly as authorities face pressure to prevent campaign statements from escalating into violence.
Amnesty said Fadahunsi must be held accountable if investigations establish that his comments amounted to incitement, while urging relevant authorities to enforce existing laws against hate speech and election-related violence.
The organisation’s position places additional pressure on security agencies and political leaders to ensure that Saturday’s poll is conducted peacefully and that politicians are held accountable for statements that could threaten lives or undermine the electoral process.