By Emma Peter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sought the support of traditional rulers nationwide in mobilising eligible citizens to participate in the 2027 General Election and promoting peaceful, issue-driven political campaigns.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, made the appeal on Tuesday when he led the Commission’s leadership on a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Riliwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, at the Iga Idunganran Palace in Lagos.
The engagement was part of INEC’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session, which signals the beginning of the Commission’s nationwide consultations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan explained that the South-West was selected as the starting point because of the zone’s strategic position in the country’s political and electoral development, with Lagos playing a particularly significant role in Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to him, the Commission’s presence in Lagos was not limited to evaluating its preparations for the forthcoming elections but also aimed at securing the cooperation of traditional institutions whose standing in their communities could be instrumental in improving voter participation and maintaining peace.
The INEC Chairman formally briefed the Oba of Lagos on the timetable for the 2027 elections. He said the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
Amupitan said the Commission was pursuing an electoral process that would be increasingly technology-driven, transparent and inclusive, with improvements continuing in areas such as online voter registration and election result management.
He, however, cautioned that technological innovation alone could not deliver a successful democratic process, stressing that citizens remained at the heart of every credible election.
“Technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do,” the INEC Chairman said, as he urged traditional rulers to use their positions to encourage eligible Nigerians to participate fully in the electoral process.
He also appealed to traditional institutions to sensitise residents within their domains on the need to complete the required voter registration procedures and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the relevant deadlines.
Beyond voter mobilisation, Amupitan called for the support of the Oba of Lagos and the Lagos Traditional Council in ensuring that political campaigns ahead of the election remained centred on issues, policies and competing ideas.
He urged traditional rulers to discourage political activities characterised by hate speech, character assassination, inflammatory statements and campaigns of calumny, warning that political ambitions should not be allowed to undermine the peace of Lagos or the country.
The INEC Chairman added that the zonal readiness assessment was also designed to reinforce professionalism among electoral officials and ensure that the Commission’s personnel remained neutral and impartial throughout the electoral process.
He disclosed that INEC had already interacted with Resident Electoral Commissioners, Electoral Officers and Heads of Departments across the South-West, reminding them of their obligations under the electoral laws and regulations.
Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s determination to conduct a 2027 election capable of strengthening citizens’ confidence in the electoral system and promoting national cohesion.
Responding, the Oba of Lagos welcomed INEC’s decision to commence its zonal readiness exercise in Lagos and expressed confidence in the Commission’s leadership under Amupitan.
The monarch charged the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners to remain honest, firm and committed to their responsibilities, while urging political leaders to move away from short-term patronage and embrace initiatives that genuinely develop human capacity.
Akiolu equally advocated issue-based campaigns and condemned hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric, calling on traditional rulers to continue using their positions to guide their communities and encourage citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
The Oba also appealed to the Federal Government to provide INEC with adequate and timely funding, stressing that the Commission required sufficient resources to effectively carry out its constitutional responsibilities.
The meeting with the Oba of Lagos forms part of INEC’s broader South-West engagements as the electoral body steps up its preparations and stakeholder consultations ahead of the 2027 General Election.
