The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has cautioned political actors and public institutions against using state resources, government machinery and security agencies to manipulate Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State. IPAC National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Dantalle, gave the warning on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja following a meeting of the council’s General Assembly on the political situation in the state. Dantalle said the election must reflect the free choice of the people, warning that no political party, candidate or public institution should enjoy an unfair advantage because it controls governmental structures. He said government institutions belonged to the people and must not be turned into instruments of partisan political competition. “IPAC strongly condemns the use or abuse of state institutions, public resources, governmental machinery or security apparatus to intimidate political opponents, suppress legitimate political activity, manipulate the electoral process or influence the free choice of voters,” he said. The council also condemned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) freezing of Osun State Government accounts, describing the action as politically motivated and capable of undermining the administration of the state. It urged the anti-graft agency to exercise caution and pursue investigations into alleged financial impropriety without actions that could affect essential services and the welfare of citizens. Dantalle said freezing the accounts could affect the payment of salaries and other legitimate entitlements of civil servants, urging the EFCC to operate within the law and respect citizens’ rights. “Government institutions belong to the people and must remain institutions of the state, not instruments of partisan political competition,” he said. IPAC called on security agencies to remain professional, impartial and non-partisan, saying their deployment should provide confidence and protection to voters rather than create fear or intimidation. It also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the election transparently and ensure equal treatment of all parties and candidates. The council appealed to political parties and their supporters to reject violence, vote buying, intimidation and inflammatory statements. It urged the people of Osun to vote according to their conscience, remain peaceful and allow electoral officials to perform their duties.
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