The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has called on political parties and their candidates participating in the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election to sheathe their swords and ensure that peace prevails before, during and after the poll.
National Chairman of IPAC, Mamman Dantalle, made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja amid growing political tension ahead of Saturday’s election.
Dantalle warned political actors against turning the election into a war zone, stressing that the contest should be based on ideas, policies, programmes and the popularity of candidates and their respective political parties.
He said the people of Osun State must be allowed to freely exercise their constitutional right to choose their governor without intimidation, harassment, inducement, violence, manipulation or undue interference.
According to him, all political parties, candidates and their supporters have a responsibility to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure that the election is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
The IPAC chairman urged political parties and their supporters to reject violence and provocation, while avoiding inflammatory and hate-filled statements capable of heightening tension in the state.
He also called on all stakeholders to respect the electoral process and legally constituted institutions, urging candidates to encourage their supporters to remain peaceful and accept legitimate electoral outcomes.
Dantalle said any grievances arising from the election should be pursued through lawful and constitutionally recognised channels rather than through violence or other forms of confrontation.
He stressed that political competition must not be allowed to degenerate into political warfare, noting that no individual or party could truly claim victory in an election conducted under an atmosphere of violence, fear and intimidation.
The IPAC chairman further appealed to political parties, candidates, security agencies, the electorate, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to place the peace, stability and democratic future of Osun State above partisan and personal interests.
He maintained that the ultimate determinant of the outcome of the election must be the freely expressed will of the people through their votes.
Dantalle therefore urged all stakeholders to work collectively towards ensuring that the August 15 governorship election is peaceful, credible and reflective of the choice of the people of Osun State.
Ubong Usoro for Nigeria Magazine
