By Nathaniel Zaccheus, Abuja
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has warned political parties and candidates against vote-buying, voter inducement and the use of state machinery to manipulate the outcome of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
IPAC, which spoke against the backdrop of heightened political tension, insecurity, killings and alleged attempts to intimidate political opponents ahead of the August 15 poll, insisted that the election must reflect the free choice of the people of Osun State.
The National Chairman of the council, Dr Yusuf M. Dantalle, stated this yesterday in Abuja after the General Assembly of IPAC deliberated on the political situation in the state.
He declared that no political party or candidate should attempt to purchase the mandate of the electorate or deploy intimidation, violence and public institutions to gain an electoral advantage.
According to him, the vote of every citizen is sacred and must not be exchanged for money, gifts, material benefits or political favours.
“The vote of every Nigerian is sacred. No citizen should be compelled, induced or coerced to exchange their vote for money, gifts, material benefits or political favours,” Dantalle said.
He urged the political parties and candidates contesting the election to compete based on their programmes, policies, records and vision for Osun State rather than resorting to financial inducement or coercion.
•Council raises alarm over insecurity, killings, political violence ahead of August 15 election
The council also expressed concern over what it described as heightened political tension in the state, warning that the atmosphere of fear, intimidation and violence could undermine the credibility of the election.
Dantalle called on political parties, candidates, supporters and campaign organisations to reject political thuggery, violence, inflammatory statements and acts capable of provoking confrontation.
“There can be no winner in an election conducted in an atmosphere of violence, fear and intimidation,” he said.
IPAC further warned against the alleged deployment or abuse of government institutions, public resources and security agencies to suppress legitimate political activities, intimidate opponents or influence voters.
The council maintained that state institutions belonged to the people and should not be converted into instruments of partisan political competition.
“No political party or candidate should enjoy an institutional advantage merely because it controls governmental structures,” Dantalle declared.
He called on all public institutions involved directly or indirectly in the election to maintain political neutrality, professionalism and strict adherence to the rule of law.
The council also took exception to the freezing of the Osun State Government’s accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), describing the action as politically motivated and capable of affecting the administration of the state.
While acknowledging the responsibility of the anti-graft agency to investigate allegations of financial impropriety, IPAC argued that such investigations should not unnecessarily disrupt the payment of workers’ salaries or the provision of essential public services.
It therefore urged the EFCC to exercise caution, professionalism and restraint in the discharge of its mandate.
The council insisted that the fight against corruption must be pursued vigorously, but within the confines of due process and respect for the welfare and rights of citizens.
On the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), IPAC demanded a transparent, professional and impartial conduct of the election.
It urged the commission to ensure that all eligible voters were allowed to cast their ballots without intimidation or obstruction and that electoral materials were delivered to polling locations on time.
It also demanded proper training and supervision of election officials, transparent accreditation and voting, accurate counting and collation of results and an open process for the declaration of the winner.
Dantalle further charged INEC to treat all political parties and candidates equally and promptly address complaints arising during the electoral process within its statutory powers.
The council equally warned security agencies against partisan conduct, insisting that personnel deployed for the election must protect voters, candidates, party agents, electoral officials and election materials without discrimination.
“Security personnel must protect voters, candidates, party agents, electoral officials and election materials without discrimination,” he said.
IPAC also urged political actors to accept legitimate electoral outcomes and seek redress through the courts where genuine disputes arose.
It cautioned parties and their supporters against resorting to violence or self-help, stressing that the judiciary remained the constitutionally recognised avenue for resolving electoral disputes.
The council appealed to the people of Osun State to remain peaceful and vigilant before, during and after the election.
Dantalle urged voters to protect their Permanent Voter Cards and exercise their franchise according to their conscience, warning them against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of political violence.
He stressed that the credibility of the election would not depend solely on the voting day but on the integrity of the entire electoral process, from campaigns and voter mobilisation to accreditation, voting, counting, collation, declaration and resolution of disputes.
“The ballot belongs to the people. The electoral process belongs to the people. And the outcome must reflect the will of the people,” he said.
The IPAC chairman also called on the media, civil society organisations, traditional rulers and religious leaders to contribute to a peaceful electoral environment by promoting factual information, monitoring the process independently and discouraging inflammatory rhetoric.
Dantalle said the August 15 election presented Nigeria with another opportunity to demonstrate that democracy could produce a government based on the freely expressed will of the electorate.
“Let the votes of the people count. Let the votes be counted accurately. Let the results reflect the votes. Let the will of the people prevail,” he said.
IPAC therefore called on all stakeholders to reject vote buying, violence, intimidation and manipulation, insisting that the people of Osun State must be allowed to determine who governs them freely.
