Stop using state institutions to intimidate, harass political opponents - YUSUF DANTALLE warns politicians

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 - National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Yusuf Dantalle, has expressed concern over the rising cases of electoral violence in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Several local government areas in the state have been identified as hotspots for potential election-related violence ahead of Saturday’s poll.

Dantalle cautioned politicians against perpetrating violence against the same citizens they seek to govern, citing the destruction of lives and property in different parts of the state.

Speaking in an interview with Arise News, the IPAC chairman said the council had condemned the incidents and warned key stakeholders, including political actors, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, security agencies and traditional rulers, to prioritise the interests of the people of Osun State.

He said, “We have continued to condemn these actions and also alert various stakeholders, including political actors, INEC as the electoral umpire, security agencies and traditional leaders, on the need to prioritise the interests of the people of Osun.

“It is unacceptable to harm the people you intend to govern. There have been several incidents involving the destruction of lives and property, as well as protests and counter-protests.

“We want to advise all stakeholders involved in the Osun election that this is a deviation from the principles and ethics of democracy, which is fundamentally about allowing the people to freely and fairly choose their leaders, with the outcome respected and accepted by all.

“This situation is indeed troubling, and I would like to use this opportunity to urge all stakeholders to exercise caution.

“Those who use state institutions to intimidate or harass political opponents must desist and allow the people to make their own choices.

“If we allow such actions to continue, we must consider their implications for the general elections just a few months away. It could be a foreshadowing of what we may encounter in the 2027 elections.

“We must exercise extreme caution to avoid undermining the progress we have made.”