By Omoyeni Ojeifo
With the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship race and the 2027 general elections approaching, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain strict transparency, impartiality, and professionalism.
IPAC Chairman Dr. Yusuf M. Dantalle emphasized in Abuja on Monday that credible elections depend entirely on INEC preventing process manipulation and guaranteeing voters’ freedom to choose their leaders in accordance with the Constitution, Electoral Act 2026, and official election guidelines.
“INEC must conduct the election with the highest degree of professionalism, independence, transparency and impartiality, while ensuring strict compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, its regulations, guidelines and approved timetable,” Persecondnews quotes Dantalle as speaking with newsmen.
The council stressed that neutrality must extend to INEC officials and ad-hoc personnel, while eligible voters must be protected from intimidation or obstruction during the exercise.
“All eligible voters must be able to vote without intimidation or obstruction, while election officials are properly trained and adequately supervised.”
IPAC also stressed the importance of effective electoral logistics, urging INEC to ensure that materials reach the appropriate locations on time to prevent avoidable disruptions to voting.
It insisted that transparency must also define the accreditation and voting stages, with every political party and candidate receiving equal treatment throughout the process.
“Electoral materials must be delivered to the appropriate locations on time, and the accreditation and voting process must be conducted transparently.”
IPAC further called on INEC to ensure that results are accurately collated and transparently announced in accordance with the law, saying the outcome must reflect votes genuinely cast by the electorate.
“Results must be accurately collated and transparently announced in accordance with the law, while all political parties and candidates are treated equally,” it demanded.
The council maintained that INEC must also be responsive to concerns arising during the electoral process, stressing that unresolved complaints could undermine confidence in the election.
It urged the Commission to protect the integrity of the entire electoral process from manipulation and ensure that its legal powers are used promptly to address legitimate complaints.
“Complaints arising during the electoral process must be promptly addressed within the Commission’s legal powers, and the integrity of the entire electoral process must be protected from manipulation.”
IPAC said the responsibility for credible elections extends beyond INEC, urging political parties and candidates to respect the process, while other stakeholders must support conditions that allow voters to exercise their rights freely.
“The ballot belongs to the people. The electoral process belongs to the people. And the outcome must reflect the will of the people.”
The council emphasized the integrity of an election covers the entire electoral cycle, from campaigning and voter mobilisation to accreditation, voting, counting, collation, declaration of results and lawful resolution of disputes.
IPAC urged all stakeholders to ensure the process can withstand public scrutiny.
It advised INEC to use the Osun election to strengthen public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that every stage of the process must be credible, transparent and capable of producing an outcome accepted as a true reflection of voters’ choice.