The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has called for the immediate suspension and arrest of Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, over alleged incitement to violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
The commission’s demand followed a viral video in which a man identified as the senator was alleged to have made statements capable of inciting violence against members of the Accord Party.
In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, the commission said the alleged remarks amounted to incitement to murder, electoral violence and voter intimidation.
The NHRC called on the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to arrest, investigate and prosecute the senator if found culpable.
The commission said, “Senator Fadahunsi is alleged to have instructed supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election.”
It added that the alleged statement, if established, should not be treated as ordinary political rhetoric.
“This is not politics. This is a licence to kill. A public officer who tells citizens to murder other citizens because of party affiliation must not be allowed to remain in office for one more day,” the commission said.
The NHRC also called on the Senate leadership to suspend Fadahunsi pending the outcome of investigation.
It warned that authorities should not wait for violence to occur before taking preventive action.
The commission further urged residents of Osun State to remain peaceful and report threats to the relevant authorities, disclosing that it had established a situation room to document incidents before, during and after the election.
The NHRC’s position came as human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, petitioned the United States government and the British High Commission to impose visa restrictions on Fadahunsi and members of his family over alleged actions capable of undermining Nigeria’s democratic process.
Adeyanju said Nigerian politicians had for too long acted with impunity, undermining the rule of law and contributing to loss of lives and property.
He urged the two countries to also consider “the seizure of assets and the foreclosure of business interests of Nigerians who actively undermine the nation’s constitutional democratic process.”
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