Amnesty International Asks Nigerian Government To Hold Senator Fadahunsi Accountable In Osun Election After Viral Threats | Sahara Reporters

The organisation also said Nigerian authorities have an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.

Amnesty International has called for Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the All Progressives Congress to be held accountable over a viral video in which he was alleged to have instructed his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

The global human rights organisation, in a post on its X handle, described the remarks of the APC lawmaker as “deliberate and solely aimed at inciting a bloody poll in Osun State”.

“Amnesty International strongly condemns Francis Fadahunsi (APC) — senator representing the Osun East senatorial district, who was on video during campaign, instructing his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of the state’s August 15 governorship election.

“Senator Fadahunsi’s reckless remarks were deliberate and solely aimed at inciting a bloody poll in Osun state,” it stated.

The organisation also said Nigerian authorities have an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.

“The authorities must urgently denounce any statements, live, online or otherwise, which advocate violence.

Amnesty International’s call follows a viral video in which Fadahunsi was alleged to have directed his supporters to exhibit violent behaviour against members of the Accord Party, which has incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke as its governorship candidate.

Adeleke, at a press conference on Tuesday, accused Fadahunsi of inciting violence and “genocide” against members of the Accord Party and called for a thorough investigation to prevent the actualisation of such threats.

He also demanded the “immediate arrest” of the lawmaker, whose comment he described as a “national security threat”.

“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat that requires the attention of Mr President through the office of the National Security Adviser. I have raised this issue with the IGP and demanded the immediate investigation and arrest of Senator Fadahunsi. The IGP has confirmed the video and assured me of immediate action,” Adeleke said.

“We request that the IGP should stop the illegal operations of IRT, a team that has been arresting Accord Party leaders across the local governments for no just reason. We ask that the police and the DSS immediately arrest Senator Fadahunsi for his incitement to genocide against the people of Ijesahland and Osun State. This is to prove to the world that Nigeria is a state governed by the rule of law.”

Fadahunsi, however, dismissed claims that he was inciting violence, saying he was addressing the “continued killing of APC members” by alleged thugs in Ilesa and maintaining that his party would “defend its people” if the violence persisted.

“The video was deliberately edited to distort what I actually said. What I said was that if the alleged killing of our party members by Accord Party thugs does not stop, our party will retaliate. I was referring to the continued violence and attacks against our members in Ilesa and other parts of the state,” Fadahunsi stated.

“My statement was very clear: if the killings do not stop, we shall also retaliate. We are here to lodge complaints and demand justice. It is unacceptable for human beings to kill fellow human beings the way our members are allegedly being killed in Ilesa,” he added.