ActionAid Nigeria and the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought have called for the prompt investigation and possible prosecution of Senator Francis Fadahunsi over alleged threats against members of the Accord Party during the build-up to the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
The civil society organisations made the demand on Monday at a joint press conference on the aftermath of the August 15 governorship election, warning that failure to hold political actors accountable for inflammatory rhetoric could further entrench electoral impunity in Nigeria.
Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), became embroiled in controversy following a viral video in which he was allegedly heard directing supporters to kill members of the Accord Party if they encountered them in Ilesa.
The Osun State Police Command subsequently summoned the senator for questioning over the remarks, which it described as potentially threatening, inciting and intimidating.
Fadahunsi, however, denied calling for violence, maintaining that his comments had been misunderstood and that he was referring to defeating the Accord Party at the polls.
The CSOs said the matter should not end with the senator’s invitation or questioning by the police, insisting that a thorough investigation should be conducted and prosecution initiated if available evidence establishes that an offence was committed.
They argued that publicly threatening citizens on the basis of their political affiliation or voting preferences raises serious concerns under Nigeria’s criminal laws and risks normalising violent political rhetoric.
“Impunity is at the heart of electoral violence,” the organisations said, warning that failure to investigate and prosecute electoral offences creates incentives for politicians and their supporters to deploy threats, intimidation and violence in the pursuit of political power.
They urged the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the investigation is conducted transparently, professionally and without political interference, with the case file forwarded to the appropriate prosecutorial authorities where sufficient evidence exists.
The groups also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to send a clear warning to political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections that threats, incitement to violence and violations of citizens’ constitutional rights would not be tolerated.
The demand comes amid wider condemnation of the senator’s alleged remarks. Amnesty International has called for a police investigation, while the National Human Rights Commission urged Fadahunsi’s arrest and suspension, describing the alleged comments as incitement to murder, electoral violence and voter intimidation.
The Osun State Government has also approached the state High Court seeking an order compelling the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police in the state to investigate the allegations against the senator.
The organisations said the controversy highlighted a broader threat to Nigeria’s democratic process: the use of threats and violence to restrict citizens’ freedom to participate in politics.
They stressed that citizens must be free to associate with political parties, campaign, express political views and vote for candidates of their choice without fear of violence or retaliation.
“Democracy is not only about ballots; it is also about people’s freedoms and liberties,” they said.
The groups further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strengthen its monitoring of political actors before, during and after elections and improve collaboration with security and prosecutorial agencies in tackling intimidation, violence and other electoral offences.
While commending the people of Osun State for what they described as a largely peaceful election, the organisations expressed concern over the number of registered voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards but did not participate in the poll.
They warned that political violence and inflammatory statements could further discourage citizens from exercising their democratic rights.
The groups said they would continue to monitor developments in Osun State, particularly the handling of allegations involving Fadahunsi and other political actors.
They urged political parties, civil society organisations, the media, security agencies and citizens to reject violent politics and demand accountability ahead of the 2027 elections.
“No one should be above the law, and no one should be below its protection,” they declared.
According to the organisations, ending electoral impunity is critical to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process and ensuring that citizens can participate freely and safely in democratic governance.
