INEC ENGAGES TRADITIONAL RULERS TO PROMOTE PEACE, MOBILISE CITIZENS FOR 2027 ELECTION
Read Time:2 Minute, 51 Second
By:Aminat Tajudeen
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has enlisted the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, and the Lagos Traditional Council as key partners in promoting peace, strengthening civic participation and mobilising citizens ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the call on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the monarch at Iga Idunganran, Lagos Island, as part of activities marking the conclusion of the Commission’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session.
Amupitan said the Commission was seeking the support of traditional institutions to maintain peace and protect Nigeria’s democratic process before, during and after the elections.
“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.
He stressed that elections should be viewed as civic exercises that provide citizens with the opportunity to freely choose their leaders rather than occasions for conflict and violence.
According to him, although INEC is deploying technology to improve the electoral process, the cooperation and influence of traditional institutions remain critical to the success of the exercise.
Amupitan appealed to Oba Akiolu to use his position and influence to mobilise Lagos residents to participate actively in the electoral process, particularly by completing voter registration and collecting their Permanent Voter Cards.
He said the National Register of Voters was approaching 100 million, making cooperation among INEC, traditional institutions and other stakeholders essential to effectively manage the electoral process across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The INEC chairman described traditional rulers as enduring custodians of communities, noting that their influence extends beyond political cycles.
“Political parties and electoral commissions come and go, but the traditional institution remains the permanent anchor of our communities,” he said.
Amupitan also urged the monarch to use his influence to encourage politicians to conduct issue-based campaigns and avoid inflammatory rhetoric, personal attacks and divisive conduct as political activities intensify ahead of 2027.
He formally requested the monarch’s royal blessings for INEC’s leadership, staff and ad-hoc personnel; support for voter registration and PVC collection; and continued advocacy for peace among community leaders, market associations, youths and political actors.
Responding, Oba Akiolu welcomed the Commission’s initiative and urged politicians to move away from short-term patronage and focus on empowering citizens through sustainable development and capacity building.
The monarch also called for issue-based campaigns devoid of hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric.
He identified youth indiscipline as a major national concern and charged traditional rulers to guide their communities towards responsible civic participation and encourage citizens to turn out in large numbers to exercise their democratic rights.
“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,” Oba Akiolu said.
Here is a stronger, polished version in a clean news-reporting style:
The monarch also urged the INEC leadership to remain committed to its constitutional responsibilities, calling on the chairman and national commissioners to uphold integrity, impartiality and steadfastness in the discharge of their duties.
He further appealed to the Federal Government to provide the Commission with adequate and timely funding, stressing that INEC must have all the resources required to effectively and efficiently fulfil its constitutional mandate.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0