Inter-Party Council Demands Free, Fair Osun Gov’ship Election

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has charged all political parties, candidates, security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election is free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful.

IPAC national chairman, Dr Yusuf Dantalle, made the appeal in Abuja, following the council’s General Assembly meeting on the political situation in the state.

Dantalle said the people of Osun must be allowed to freely determine their governor through their votes, without intimidation, harassment, inducement, violence, manipulation or undue interference.

He urged political actors to place the peace, stability and democratic future of the state above partisan and personal interests, stressing that political competition must not degenerate into warfare.

IPAC expressed concern over the heightened political tension ahead of the election and called for its immediate de-escalation.

The council urged political leaders, candidates, supporters and government officials to tone down inflammatory rhetoric, threats and actions capable of aggravating tensions, while calling for political engagement based on persuasion, tolerance and democratic competition.

The council also condemned electoral violence, political thuggery, intimidation, harassment and destruction of property. It called on the parties and candidates to publicly distance themselves from violent groups and urged security agencies to remain professional, impartial and within the law.

Security personnel deployed for the election, IPAC said, must protect voters, candidates, electoral officials and materials rather than intimidate citizens.

A major concern raised by IPAC was the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The council condemned the action, describing it as politically motivated and capable of undermining the administration of the state.

IPAC argued that financial investigations could be conducted without a blanket freeze on state government accounts, warning of possible consequences for public services and the payment of workers’ salaries.

The council urged the EFCC to exercise caution, professionalism and restraint while pursuing corruption cases within the law and due process.

IPAC further warned against the use or abuse of state institutions, public resources, government machinery and security agencies to intimidate political opponents or manipulate the electoral process. It insisted that public institutions must remain politically neutral and that no party or candidate should enjoy an institutional advantage simply because it controls government structures.

The council called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election with professionalism, independence, transparency and impartiality, in compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and relevant regulations.

It urged INEC to ensure timely delivery of electoral materials, proper training and supervision of officials, transparent accreditation and voting, accurate collation and announcement of results, equal treatment of all parties and prompt handling of complaints.

IPAC also rejected vote-buying and voter inducement, urging political parties and candidates to compete on the basis of their ideas, programmes, records and vision for Osun State.

It called on all contestants to commit themselves to peaceful political competition and urged anyone dissatisfied with the election to seek redress through lawful dispute-resolution mechanisms rather than violence or self-help.

The council appealed directly to the people of Osun State to remain peaceful, vigilant and patriotic, protect their Permanent Voter Cards and vote according to their conscience.

It also urged the media, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders and election observers to promote factual and responsible reporting, monitor the electoral process and avoid actions or information capable of inflaming political tensions.

Dantalle said that the credibility of the Osun election would depend not only on voting but on the integrity of the entire electoral cycle—from campaigns and voter mobilisation to accreditation, voting, counting, collation, declaration and dispute resolution.