The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has demanded the immediate suspension and arrest of the Senator for Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Fadahunsi, for allegedly inciting his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship poll in the state.
The Commission, in a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, referenced a viral video that captured the lawmaker making statements it said amounted to incitement to murder, electoral violence, and voter intimidation.
It urged the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest, investigate, and prosecute the federal lawmaker.
“Senator Fadahunsi is alleged to have instructed supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s Osun governorship election.
“In the video circulated online, the person identified as the Senator was translated to have said: ‘From now on, whenever you see Accord members, kill them. I authorise you to kill them. They have wives and children too. This is a Federal Government election. On election day, even if they come with voter cards, we won’t allow them to vote.’
“No well-meaning Nigerian should sit by and allow such rhetoric to be tolerated without consequences from the law enforcement authorities.
“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 Senate leadership is hereby called upon to suspend Senator Fadahunsi immediately, pending conclusive investigation by the police.
“The Police and DSS must also arrest, investigate, and prosecute him now. We cannot wait until blood is spilled in Osun before we act. Prevention is the duty of the state, and the leadership of the NASS is part of the state,” the statement added.
The NHRC maintained that, given the gravity of the statements attributed to the Senator in the video, the matter required urgent investigation by security agencies under due process.
