By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has enlisted traditional rulers as strategic partners in maintaining peace, promoting civic participation and mobilising Nigerians ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, appealed during a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, and members of the Lagos Traditional Council at Iga Idunganran, Lagos Island, on Tuesday.
The visit formed part of the Commission’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session as preparations gradually gather momentum for the 2027 general polls.
Prof. Amupitan said INEC was formally seeking the support of the Oba of Lagos and the traditional institution in ensuring peaceful elections and strengthening citizens’ confidence and participation in the democratic process.
“We are here today to formally enlist Your Royal Majesty and the Lagos Traditional Council as powerful partners in keeping the peace and safeguarding our democracy,” the INEC Chairman said.
“Elections are civic celebrations of free choice, not contests of conflict or violence.”
The INEC Chairman stressed that although the Commission was deploying technology to strengthen the credibility and efficiency of the electoral process, technology alone could not guarantee a successful democracy without the active participation and support of citizens and respected institutions.
“However, Your Majesty, technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do,” Amupitan said.
He appealed to the monarch to deploy the influence of the traditional institution in mobilising Lagos residents to take ownership of the electoral process, participate actively and turn out in large numbers during elections.
“We humbly request your royal voice to help us mobilise the good people of Lagos. We want them to take ownership of the electoral process, to participate in the electoral process and, in particular, turn out in their numbers when the time comes.
“When a father speaks, his children listen,” he added.
Amupitan disclosed that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters was fast approaching 100 million, noting that managing elections across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would require more than technical preparedness by the Commission.
According to him, the successful conduct of the 2027 General Elections would depend significantly on peace, cooperation and moral support from traditional institutions across the country.
He described traditional rulers as enduring pillars of society and custodians of culture, peace and social cohesion whose influence transcends political administrations and electoral cycles.
“Political parties and electoral commissions come and go, but the traditional institution remains the permanent anchor of our communities,” he said.
“You are the true custodians of our culture, peace, and social cohesion.”
The INEC Chairman also urged Oba Akiolu and other traditional rulers to counsel politicians against divisive campaigns, hate speech and personal attacks as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
“We urge you, as a father to all politicians regardless of their party affiliations, to counsel them to focus on issues rather than insults,” he said.
“Let them debate policies, not personalities.”
Amupitan formally presented three key requests to the monarch, including royal blessings and support for INEC’s leadership, staff and ad-hoc personnel who would be deployed nationwide for the elections.
He also sought the intervention of the traditional institution in encouraging eligible Nigerians to complete their voter registration and collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.
The third request centred on continued advocacy for peace among community leaders, market associations, youth groups and political actors before, during and after the elections.
Responding, Oba Akiolu welcomed the Commission’s appeal and pledged the support of the traditional institution towards peaceful and credible elections.
The monarch, however, urged politicians to abandon the culture of short-term patronage and focus instead on genuine empowerment and capacity building for citizens.
“Politicians must move away from the culture of short-term patronage and focus on genuine capacity building — teaching our people how to fish rather than giving them fish,” Oba Akiolu said.
He also called for campaigns to be centred on policies and issues affecting Nigerians rather than hate speech, insults and inflammatory rhetoric.
“Campaigning must remain strictly issue-based, free from hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric,” the monarch said.
Oba Akiolu identified indiscipline among some sections of the youth population as a major national challenge and charged traditional rulers to provide moral guidance and encourage citizens to participate actively in the democratic process.
“As Royal Fathers, it is our solemn duty to guide our communities and inspire citizens to turn out in large numbers to exercise their democratic franchise,” he said.
The Oba further charged the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners to remain honest, steadfast and unwavering in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
“I appeal to the Chairman and National Commissioners to remain unwavering, honest, and steadfast in your sacred trust,” he said.
The monarch also appealed to the Federal Government to ensure the full and timely funding of elections, saying INEC must be adequately equipped with the resources required to effectively discharge its constitutional mandate.
The engagement underscored INEC’s growing emphasis on collaboration with traditional institutions and other critical stakeholders as the Commission intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Elections.
