Amnesty International Nigeria has vowed to pursue accountability over comments attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi,
said the human rights organisation would use the case to demonstrate that political figures should be held accountable for remarks that could contribute to violence during elections.

Sanusi spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday while reacting to a video circulating online in which Fadahunsi, an All Progressives Congress senator representing Osun East, was seen making remarks that Amnesty described as inciting.

Sanusi said, “We are going to use him as an example. We have had so many terrible politicians say terrible things ahead of the election.

“But this one is exceptional, a situation where somebody came out on record, saying that ‘kill them wherever you find them’.”

The Senator’s remarks have drawn criticism ahead of the election, with the Osun State Police Command summoning him on Tuesday. He was subsequently questioned by the police for about two hours on Wednesday and later granted administrative bail.

But Sanusi vowed that Amnesty International would continue to advocate accountability for statements or actions that could threaten peaceful political participation.

He said the organisation would also draw attention to the matter internationally.

“We are going to use this man as an example to show that the impunity by Nigerian politicians cannot continue and we cannot tolerate it again,” he said.

Sanusi further argued that advocacy of hatred and incitement to violence should be treated seriously under both Nigerian law and international human rights standards.

“I believe that that person does not deserve any peace again, because advocacy of hatred is a crime under international law as well as Nigerian laws,” he said.

He added that Amnesty would continue to press relevant authorities to take appropriate action where political statements are considered capable of encouraging violence.

Amnesty International Nigeria had, on Wednesday, condemned the remarks attributed to Fadahunsi, saying authorities have an obligation to prohibit advocacy of hatred where it constitutes incitement to hostility, discrimination or violence.

The organisation described the comments as reckless and said they could contribute to tension ahead of the Osun governorship election.

“Senator Fadahunsi must be held accountable,” Amnesty International Nigeria said.