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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for the immediate suspension and arrest of Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East, over a viral video in which he allegedly called on his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.
In the video circulated online, the senator was translated as saying: “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.”
Reacting to the development, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu (SAN), described the alleged remarks as incitement to murder, electoral violence and voter intimidation.
Ojukwu insisted that no well-meaning Nigerian should allow such rhetoric to go unchallenged.
“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,” he said.
He called on the leadership of the Senate to immediately suspend Fadahunsi pending the outcome of a police investigation.
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The NHRC boss also urged the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest, investigate and prosecute the senator if found culpable.
“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,” Ojukwu said.
The Commission said the gravity of the alleged remarks, coming just days before the August 15 Osun governorship election, required urgent investigation by relevant security agencies in accordance with due process.
Beyond the allegations against Fadahunsi, the NHRC directed chairmen of all political parties to instruct their members to desist from making hateful, inciting, intimidating or violence-inducing statements ahead of elections.
It warned that candidates and party supporters who violate the directive should be publicly called out for breaching constitutional and electoral provisions and handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
The Commission also appealed to residents of Osun State to remain peaceful and report threats or incidents of electoral violence to the NHRC and other relevant authorities.
It said it had activated a situation room to receive, document and respond to reports of human rights violations and other incidents throughout the election period.
