By Stella Odueme
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on traditional rulers to play a central role in promoting peace, encouraging voter participation and ensuring a credible electoral process ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the call on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, when he led the Commission’s delegation on a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, at Iga Idunganran, Lagos Island.
The visit formed part of activities marking the conclusion of INEC’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session, the INEC daily bulletin said on Wednesday.
Amupitan formally enlisted the Oba of Lagos and the Lagos Traditional Council as partners in the Commission’s efforts to safeguard peace and mobilise citizens for the 2027 elections.
He said the success of the electoral process could not depend on technology alone, stressing that the cooperation and moral authority of traditional institutions remained critical.
According to him, INEC was deploying technology to strengthen elections, but traditional rulers were needed to encourage citizens to take ownership of the electoral process, register to vote and participate fully in the exercise.
The INEC Chairman noted that with the National Register of Voters approaching 100 million, managing the electoral process across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would require not only technical preparedness but also the cooperation and support of traditional institutions.
He described traditional rulers as enduring custodians of peace, culture and social cohesion whose influence transcends political administrations.
Amupitan also urged Oba Akiolu to use his position to counsel politicians against divisive rhetoric as political activities intensify, advising them to focus on issues and policies rather than personal attacks.
He presented three major requests to the monarch: royal blessings for INEC officials and ad-hoc personnel to be deployed for the elections; support in encouraging residents to complete voter registration and collect their Permanent Voter Cards; and continued advocacy for peace among political actors, community leaders, market associations and youth groups.
Responding, Oba Akiolu endorsed the Commission’s appeal and urged politicians to move away from short-term patronage and embrace genuine engagement and capacity building for citizens.
The monarch called for issue-based campaigns devoid of hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric, while urging traditional rulers to guide their communities towards responsible civic participation.
“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.
Oba Akiolu further charged the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners to remain honest, steadfast and committed to their constitutional responsibilities.
He also appealed to the Federal Government to provide adequate and timely funding to enable the Commission to effectively discharge its mandate and conduct credible elections.
The engagement underscores the growing emphasis on collaboration between electoral institutions and traditional authorities in strengthening peaceful participation and public confidence ahead of the 2027 elections.