By David Lawani, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun mobilising traditional rulers as strategic partners in its preparations for the 2027 general elections, seeking their influence to boost voter registration, Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, peaceful participation and turnout.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, appealed on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, at the Iga Idunganran in Lagos.
The engagement followed the conclusion of the Commission’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session.
Amupitan said traditional institutions would be critical to ensuring peaceful and credible elections, particularly because of their influence at the grassroots and their ability to mobilise citizens across communities.
He formally sought the support of Oba Akiolu and the Lagos Traditional Council in promoting peaceful political participation and strengthening public ownership of the electoral 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,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman said the Commission’s deployment of technology could strengthen electoral processes but would not, on its own, guarantee successful elections without citizens’ active participation.
“Technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do,” he said.
Amupitan urged the monarch to use his influence to encourage Lagos residents to participate in the electoral process, complete voter registration and collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the elections.
“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 said.
The INEC chairman said the scale of the 2027 elections made the involvement of traditional institutions particularly important, noting that the National Register of Voters was approaching 100 million.
He described traditional rulers as enduring custodians of peace, culture and social cohesion whose influence extends beyond individual political administrations and electoral cycles.
“Political parties and electoral commissions come and go, but the traditional institution remains the permanent anchor of our communities,” Amupitan said.
“You are the true custodians of our culture, peace, and social cohesion.”
He also appealed to Oba Akiolu to use his position as a father figure to political actors in Lagos to discourage inflammatory rhetoric and divisive campaigns as electioneering intensifies.
“We urge you, as a father to all politicians regardless of their party affiliations, to counsel them to focus on issues rather than insults. Let them debate policies, not personalities,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman identified three key areas where the traditional institution could assist the Commission.
These include offering royal support to INEC officials and ad-hoc personnel who will be deployed for the elections; mobilising citizens to complete registration and collect their PVCs; and promoting peaceful relationships among community leaders, market associations, youth groups and political actors.
Responding, Oba Akiolu endorsed the Commission’s appeal and urged politicians to move away from short-term political patronage and focus on empowering 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,” the monarch said.
He also urged political parties and candidates to make their campaigns issue-based and avoid hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric.
The monarch identified youth indiscipline as one of the country’s major challenges and urged traditional rulers to play a stronger role in promoting civic responsibility and democratic 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,” Akiolu said.
The Oba also urged INEC’s leadership to remain impartial and transparent throughout the electoral process.
“I appeal to the Chairman and National Commissioners to remain unwavering, honest, and steadfast in your sacred trust,” he said.
He further called on the Federal Government to provide adequate and timely funding for INEC, stressing that the Commission must have sufficient resources to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively.
The engagement underscores INEC’s growing reliance on traditional institutions as it prepares for the 2027 elections, particularly in its efforts to improve voter participation, prevent electoral violence and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
