Amnesty International to Expose Osun Election Irregularities Globally

Amnesty International Nigeria has announced its intention to publicly denounce Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents the Osun East Senatorial District, across 150 countries where the organization operates. This action stems from alleged incitement to electoral violence ahead of the 2026 Osun State governorship election. Isa Sanusi, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, conveyed this decision during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, stating that Fadahunsi’s case would serve as a prominent example in their ongoing efforts to hold Nigerian politicians accountable for statements that could provoke election-related violence.

Senator Fadahunsi was recently invited and questioned by the Osun State Police Command regarding comments he purportedly made at an All Progressives Congress campaign rally in Ilesa. After approximately two hours of grilling, he was released. The senator has reportedly disputed the interpretation of his remarks, with some reports indicating he claimed the video circulating online had been generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence. However, Sanusi affirmed that Amnesty International considers the alleged remarks sufficiently serious to warrant global attention. When asked if Fadahunsi’s name would be circulated internationally and if this could lead to restrictions against him, Sanusi responded affirmatively, declaring, “Yes, we are going to use him as an example.”

Sanusi elaborated on the exceptional nature of Fadahunsi’s alleged comments, noting that while many politicians had made inflammatory statements before the election, Fadahunsi’s stood out because he was purportedly recorded advocating for people to be killed. Sanusi described such remarks as an “advocacy of hatred,” asserting that they constitute a grave offense under both international and Nigerian law. He stated, “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.”

The Amnesty International country director further explained that the organization plans to leverage this case to confront the prevailing culture of impunity among Nigerian politicians. “Therefore, 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,” Sanusi emphasized. He also highlighted the critical role citizens must play in demanding accountability from political actors, particularly when government institutions fail to address inflammatory rhetoric. The controversy arises just days before the Osun governorship election, a period marked by intensified political campaigns and increased security presence across the state.