FAILURE TO PROSECUTE SENATOR FRANCIS FADAHUNSI FOR CALLING FOR A BLOOD BATH AGAINST ACCORD PARTY SUPPORTERS IS OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF ANARCHY The Senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, in a viral video circulating online, called for the killing of Accord Party members in Osun State during Saturday’s gubernatorial election. The statement made by the Senator in the viral video is highly unfortunate, condemnable, reckless and irresponsible, especially at a time when the political atmosphere in the state is already tense. The Senator's incendiary statement has heightened the already tense political atmosphere in the state, which may lead to a breakdown of law and order and negatively affect voter turnout in the forthcoming election. The subsequent explanation by the Senator, in a bid to defend himself by stating that he meant killing the Accord Party members through votes, is pedestrian, childish and feeble. Furthermore, the statement by the Senator is capable of negatively affecting the integrity of the electoral process, inciting supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against supporters of the Accord Party and other political parties, and also scaring voters away from exercising their constitutional and civic rights to elect candidates of their choice in the forthcoming election. I am aware that the Criminal Investigation Department of the Osun State Police Command invited the Senator for questioning and subsequently released him. This shows that the Osun State Police Command has already taken sides and appears unwilling to take further action against the Senator. It is on this note that I call on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to immediately arraign the Senator in a court of competent jurisdiction, in order to demonstrate to Nigerians that his commitment to securing the electoral process in Osun and ensuring a free and fair election is not empty. The prosecution of the Senator will equally demonstrate to Nigerians that he is non-partisan and impartial, having arrested members of the Accord Party and ferried them to Abuja on yet-to-be-substantiated allegations of violence. Failure to prosecute Senator Fadahunsi in accordance with the law will be interpreted by well-meaning Nigerians as an official endorsement of anarchy and a dangerous signal that certain individuals are above the law. Such inaction will not only undermine public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the Nigeria Police Force, but may also embolden political actors and their supporters to resort to threats, intimidation and violence as tools of political engagement. INIBEHE EFFIONG, ESQ.