ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Amnesty International has vowed to use Senator Francis Fadahunsi as an example in its campaign against inflammatory political statements and incitement to violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
The Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, disclosed this on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday while reacting to controversy over a video allegedly showing Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, making remarks interpreted as a call for violence against members of the Accord Party.
Sanusi said the organisation would pursue accountability over the alleged remarks and ensure that the case receives international attention across the 150 countries where Amnesty International operates.
“We are going to use him as an example. We have had so many terrible politicians say terrible things ahead of the election,” he said.
“But this one is exceptional, a situation where somebody came out on record, saying that ‘kill them wherever you find them’.”
READ ALSO INEC Intensifies Preparations For Osun Guber Poll
Fadahunsi, a member of the All Progressives Congress, has faced criticism following the circulation of the video on social media.
The Osun State Police Command had summoned the senator on Tuesday over the alleged remarks and questioned him for about two hours on Wednesday.
Sanusi said Amnesty International considered advocacy of hatred and incitement to violence serious violations requiring firm action by the authorities.
He said the organisation would continue to demand accountability from political actors and challenge what he described as a culture of impunity.
“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,” Sanusi said.
READ ALSO Motorcyclist Shot Dead During Union Election Celebration In Osun
“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 Amnesty director said the organisation would publicise the case internationally as part of efforts to discourage politicians from making statements capable of triggering violence during elections.
Amnesty International Nigeria had earlier condemned the alleged remarks and called on the authorities to take urgent action against statements advocating violence, whether made during political campaigns or disseminated online.
In a statement published on its X account on Wednesday, the organisation specifically called for Fadahunsi to be held accountable.
The organisation described the alleged comments as reckless and warned that they could contribute to violence during the election.