Human rights group launches digital campaign to condemn Fadahunsi's 'eliminate Accord' remark

Nigerians are being urged by Amnesty International Nigeria to add their signatures to an online petition, demanding action be taken against Senator Francis Fadahunsi due to comments he allegedly made ahead of the Osun State governorship election this Saturday.

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The call to sign the petition was made by the organisation on Friday through a series of posts on its official X account, with the goal of ensuring Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, is held accountable for his remarks, which Amnesty describes as inciting violence.

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Amnesty stated that the petition is available for signing, saying "Online petition to ensure that Sen. Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi face justice for inciting violence ahead of Osun election is ready! You can sign here."

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The human rights organisation also emphasised the importance of safeguarding the rights of Osun residents to participate freely in the election, stating that the human rights of the people of Osun state must be upheld and protected.

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According to Amnesty, people must be free to vote without anything or anyone undermining their right to make political choices, and the organisation stressed this point, saying "People must be free to vote — without anything or anyone undermining their right to make political choices."

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Amnesty International Nigeria is calling on the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate the remarks attributed to Fadahunsi, citing the need for urgent action in response to allegations of incitement to violence ahead of the Osun election.

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The organisation is seeking a prompt, impartial, and thorough investigation into the reported remarks attributed to Senator Francis Fadahunsi, and accountability where the evidence establishes a criminal offence, noting that "Allegations of incitement to violence ahead of the Osun election require urgent action."

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Amnesty also underscored the importance of preventing political differences from escalating into violence, stating "Political differences must never become a justification for violence."

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The online petition can be signed at the following link: https://join.amnesty.org.ng/page/198831/petition/1.

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The development comes after a video circulated on social media earlier in the week, showing Fadahunsi addressing supporters in Ilesa ahead of Saturday’s election, in which he made remarks that were interpreted as a threat against members of the Accord Party.

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Following the backlash, Fadahunsi, through his media office, clarified that he was referring to defeating the Accord Party with votes and not physically attacking its members, in a statement titled “Kill Osun Accord with Votes, Not Violence, Senator Fadahunsi Tells APC”.

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In the statement, the senator described the comment as political and metaphorical and denied advocating violence or intimidation, while also urging his supporters to maintain peace and allow voters to freely exercise their rights.

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The Osun State Police Command subsequently invited Fadahunsi to clarify the remarks, with the invitation, dated August 11, directing him to appear before the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo over statements the police described as potentially “threatening, inciting and intimidating”.

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Fadahunsi honoured the invitation on Wednesday and was questioned by police for more than two hours before leaving the command, in a move the police described as a proactive measure intended to reduce political tension ahead of the election.

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The petition comes as Osun voters prepare to elect their governor on Saturday, August 15, amid heightened political tensions and concerns over electoral violence.