By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA— 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.
“The Commission is calling on authorities to immediately suspend Senator Fadahunsi from all Senate duties pending investigation.
“The Commission urges citizens of Osun to remain peaceful and to report any threats to the Commission and relevant authorities, as it has set up a situation room to report and document such incidents during the election period,” it added.
The NHRC’s position came as human rights lawyer Mr. Deji Adeyanju wrote to the United States government and the British High Commission, demanding a visa ban for Senator Fadahunsi and members of his family for actions capable of undermining democratic and electoral processes in Nigeria.
“For far too long, Nigerian politicians have acted with impunity in a manner that has subverted the will of the Nigerian people, undermined the rule of law, and caused substantial loss of lives and property of ordinary Nigerians.
“We use this medium to urge you to send a strong message to each and every one of them,” Adeyanju stated in his petition.
He urged both the US and UK governments to equally consider “the seizure of assets and the foreclosure of business interests of Nigerians who actively undermine the nation’s constitutional democratic process.”
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