The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has called on traditional rulers across Nigeria to use their influence and moral authority to mobilise eligible citizens to participate actively in the 2027 General Election.
The Commission also urged traditional institutions to promote peaceful and issue-based campaigns while discouraging hate speech, character assassination and inflammatory rhetoric ahead of the polls.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the appeal on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 in Lagos during a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Riliwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, at the Iga Idunganran Palace.
The visit was part of INEC’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session, marking the commencement of the Commission’s nationwide engagement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Professor Amupitan said the South-West, with Lagos as the starting point, was selected because of its strategic importance to Nigeria’s electoral and democratic development.
He said the exercise was not only designed to assess INEC’s operational preparedness but also to secure the support of traditional institutions in strengthening voter participation and sustaining peace during the electoral process.
The INEC Chairman formally informed the Oba of Lagos that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would take place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
According to him, the Commission is working towards delivering a technologically driven, transparent and inclusive election, with improvements being made to systems such as online voter registration and result management.
He, however, stressed that technology alone could not guarantee a successful democratic process.
“Technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do,” Amupitan said, urging traditional rulers to mobilise eligible Nigerians to participate in the electoral process and turn out in large numbers on election day.
He also appealed to traditional rulers to encourage eligible residents to complete the necessary voter registration processes and collect their Permanent Voter Cards before statutory deadlines.
The INEC Chairman further sought the intervention of the Oba of Lagos and the Lagos Traditional Council in ensuring that political campaigns remained focused on policies and issues.
He urged traditional rulers to discourage political actors from engaging in hate speech, character assassination, inflammatory statements and campaigns of calumny.
Amupitan stressed that the peace and stability of Lagos State and Nigeria should take priority over individual political ambitions.
He also said the nationwide readiness assessment was intended to ensure that INEC personnel remained professional, neutral and impartial in the performance of their duties.
The Chairman disclosed that the Commission had already engaged Resident Electoral Commissioners, Electoral Officers and Heads of Departments across the South-West, reminding them of the laws and regulations guiding the conduct of elections.
He expressed INEC’s determination to deliver a 2027 election capable of strengthening public confidence in the electoral process and contributing to national unity.
Responding, the Oba of Lagos welcomed INEC’s decision to begin its zonal readiness assessment in Lagos, expressing optimism about the success of the Commission under Amupitan’s leadership.
Oba Akiolu urged the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners to remain honest, steadfast and unwavering in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The monarch also called on politicians to move away from short-term patronage and embrace genuine capacity building, while urging them to conduct campaigns based on issues rather than hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric.
He appealed to traditional rulers to continue guiding their communities and encouraging citizens to exercise their democratic franchise.
The Oba of Lagos further called on the Federal Government to provide INEC with adequate and timely funding, stressing that the Commission requires sufficient resources to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate.
The engagement with the Oba of Lagos is part of INEC’s broader South-West readiness activities as the Commission intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Election.
