Amnesty International Nigeria has vowed to make Senator Francis Fadahunsi a test case in its campaign against impunity and inflammatory political statements, following remarks attributed to the lawmaker ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The organisation’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said on Thursday that Amnesty would pursue accountability over the controversy surrounding a viral video involving Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District.
Sanusi, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, described the alleged remarks as particularly serious because they appeared to advocate violence against members of the Accord Party. Amnesty had earlier condemned the comments and said Nigerian authorities had an obligation to act against advocacy of hatred that could incite hostility, discrimination or violence.
According to Sanusi, Amnesty intends to use the senator’s case to challenge what it sees as a culture of impunity among political actors during election periods.
He said the organisation would also pursue an international campaign to identify and publicly expose politicians who advocate electoral violence, noting that Amnesty operates in about 150 countries.
The controversy arose after a campaign video circulated online in which Fadahunsi was allegedly heard making comments interpreted as an instruction to supporters to “kill” members of the Accord Party.
Amnesty said the remarks were reckless and capable of escalating tensions ahead of the August 15 election, stressing that political competition should not become a justification for violence.
Fadahunsi has rejected the interpretation placed on his comments. The senator has maintained that he was not calling for the physical killing of political opponents and has argued that his words were taken out of context. He has also claimed that the video was edited in a way that distorted his intended meaning.
The matter has nevertheless attracted the attention of security authorities. Fadahunsi was invited by the Osun State Police Command and questioned over the controversial remarks.
For Amnesty International, however, the issue goes beyond the individual senator. Sanusi said the organisation wants the case to demonstrate that political influence should not shield public officials from consequences when their statements are considered capable of encouraging violence.
