The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for the immediate suspension and arrest of Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, over alleged inflammatory remarks contained in a viral video ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.
The commission, led by its Executive Secretary, Chief Tony Ojukwu, said the remarks allegedly attributed to Fadahunsi amounted to incitement to murder, electoral violence and voter intimidation.
According to the NHRC, the senator allegedly instructed his supporters to kill members of the Accord Party whenever they encountered them and warned that Accord supporters should not be allowed to vote, irrespective of whether they possessed valid voter cards.
Ojukwu described the alleged comments as a “licence to kill” and warned that security and law-enforcement authorities must intervene before the situation escalates into violence.
“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,” Ojukwu said.
The NHRC urged the leadership of the Senate to immediately suspend Fadahunsi pending an investigation into the allegations.
It also called on the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest, investigate and, where evidence supports the allegations, prosecute the senator in accordance with the law.
The commission further directed political party leaders and chairmen to caution their members against making hateful, inflammatory, intimidating or violent statements capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the election.
It warned that candidates, party officials and supporters who violate the directive should be reported to law-enforcement authorities for appropriate action.
The NHRC appealed to residents of Osun State to remain calm and peaceful throughout the electoral process and urged citizens to report threats, intimidation and other human-rights violations to the appropriate authorities.
The commission said it had established a situation room to document, monitor and respond to human-rights and electoral incidents during the election period.
While stressing the seriousness of the allegations against Fadahunsi, the NHRC said they must be subjected to prompt, impartial investigation and due process to establish the facts and determine appropriate legal action.
