Inciting comments: Police grill Fadahunsi, Amnesty, NHRC demand prosecution

Senator Francis Fadahunsi, representing Osun East Senatorial District, was interrogated by the police for over two hours regarding a viral video. In the video, he allegedly instructed his supporters to harm members of the Accord party in Ilesa.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation. The spokesman for the Ademola Adeleke campaign council threatened a N10 billion defamation suit against the senator. Additionally, the Peoples Democratic Party, the National Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, and the Accord party have all denounced the alleged inciting remarks and called for Fadahunsi's immediate prosecution.

Fadahunsi arrived at the Osun State Police Command headquarters accompanied by his aides and All Progressives Congress chieftains. He was questioned by the Commissioner of Police for the election, Samuel Etaifo, in the presence of his legal counsel. Upon leaving, the senator denied inciting violence, asserting that his words were misconstrued by "mischievous interpreters" of the Yoruba language. He clarified that he intended to say the party would "kill them with our votes" on Saturday.

Countering calls for his arrest, Fadahunsi accused the state government of failing to address political violence. He alleged that over 30 APC members have been killed in Osun East within the past year, suggesting these actions were intended to destabilize the party's stronghold. The state police command stated that the invitation was a proactive measure to reduce political tension and clarify utterances that could incite public disturbance.

In a related development, Pelumi Olajengbesi, through his counsel, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Fadahunsi. This ultimatum demands retraction of alleged defamatory remarks made on television, where Fadahunsi linked Olajengbesi to cult groups and accused him of sponsoring political thuggery. Failure to comply could result in a N10 billion lawsuit.

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I came here to honour the police invitation. We have met, and I told them what I said, not the one manipulated by mischievous interpreters. What I said was that between now and Saturday, we will kill them with our votes.