Amnesty International Nigeria has vowed to make Senator Francis Fadahunsi the “example” in its battle against politicians accused of making inflammatory remarks capable of fuelling electoral violence ahead of the Osun State governorship election.
The human rights organisation said it would launch an international “name-and-shame” campaign against political figures who allegedly promote violence, warning that public office would not protect anyone from accountability.
Amnesty International Nigeria Country Director, Isa Sanusi, disclosed this while reacting to the controversy surrounding comments attributed to Fadahunsi, the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District.
The controversy erupted after a video allegedly showing the lawmaker making inflammatory comments circulated online, with critics accusing him of urging APC supporters to attack and kill members of the Accord Party ahead of the governorship election. The senator, however, rejected the allegation, claiming the video was generated using artificial intelligence.
The senator was later invited and questioned by the police over the alleged remarks, with reports stating that he spent about two hours with investigators.
However, Sanusi insisted that the matter was serious because of the alleged content of the statement.
“Yes, we are going to use him as an example,” Sanusi said, adding that the senator’s case stood out among several other alleged inflammatory comments made by politicians ahead of the election.
He described the alleged statement calling for people to be killed wherever they were found as a dangerous call capable of promoting hatred and violence.
According to him, anyone found making such remarks must face consequences, regardless of political status or influence.
Sanusi stressed that advocacy of hatred was prohibited under both Nigerian and international laws, warning that political power should not serve as a shield for individuals accused of inciting violence.
He further revealed that Amnesty International would take the matter beyond Nigeria by alerting its branches across the world about politicians accused of encouraging electoral violence.
“We will do an international name-and-shame of those advocating for electoral violence. Amnesty International has branches in 150 countries. We will ensure they are named and shamed in those countries and alert their governments to how dangerous these people are,” he said.
Sanusi said the move was aimed at ending what he described as a culture of impunity among Nigerian politicians.
He urged Nigerians to demand accountability from political actors, stressing that citizens must speak out whenever government institutions fail to act.
“The people have to hold them to account if the government could not do that,” he added.
