By Oluwakemi Kindness
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to hold Osun East, Senator Francis Fadahunsi accountable over alleged comments inciting violence ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Amnesty made the call in a statement posted on its official X account on Wednesday.
The rights group said a viral video showed the All Progressives Congress lawmaker allegedly instructing his supporters to attack members of the Accord Party.
Amnesty described the alleged remarks as dangerous and said they could incite violence during the August 15 election.
The organisation urged authorities to condemn statements advocating violence and investigate the senator.
It said Nigerian authorities have an obligation to prevent advocacy of hatred that could lead to hostility, discrimination or violence.
The call followed allegations by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke that Fadahunsi’s comments amounted to incitement and posed a national security threat.
Adeleke called for the senator’s immediate arrest and a thorough investigation.
He said he had raised the matter with the Inspector-General of Police, who confirmed the existence of the video and assured him of action.
Fadahunsi, however, denied inciting violence.
The senator said the video had been edited to distort his remarks.
He said he was responding to alleged attacks on APC members in Ilesa and other parts of Osun State.
Fadahunsi said his warning was that the APC would retaliate if the alleged attacks against its members continued.
The allegations come just days before the Osun governorship election, with authorities warning political actors against violence, intimidation and other electoral offences.
