The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified its preparations for the 2027 general elections with a direct appeal to traditional leaders, urging them to promote peaceful and issue-based campaigns. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, at his palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Sunday. The visit was part of INEC’s nationwide Zonal Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement initiative aimed at ensuring smooth electoral operations across Nigeria.
Prof. Amupitan emphasized that elections should never be treated as do-or-die affairs but rather as peaceful celebrations of civic choice. He specifically urged the Emir to counsel young people against being used as tools of political violence or thuggery. He also encouraged residents of the Zazzau Emirate to actively participate in all phases of the electoral process, from collecting Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to voting peacefully on election day. According to him, a vibrant democracy depends on an engaged, informed, and active electorate.
The INEC chairman explained that the visit reflected the Commission’s long-standing tradition of engaging traditional rulers to build consensus and ensure public trust. He recalled previous consultations with monarchs such as the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, over 50 Osun traditional rulers including the Ooni of Ife and Ataoja of Osogbo, and the Oba of Lagos and White Cap Chiefs during regional assessments. These engagements, he said, are vital in preparing for elections in Africa’s largest democracy, where the national voter register is nearing 100 million.
Amupitan confirmed that INEC has already fixed the statutory election dates: Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027. He stressed that the Commission is moving away from last-minute logistics, focusing instead on testing, auditing, and strengthening operational readiness well in advance. All administrative, technological, and logistical systems are being fortified across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to neutrality, fairness, and transparency, stating that the Commission has no candidate, no party, and no interest beyond the sovereign will of the Nigerian people. In response, the Emir of Zazzau commended the INEC chairman for the timely visit and for sharing detailed information about election preparations. He highlighted fairness, justice, security, timely information dissemination, and prompt result releases as critical to a successful electoral process.
The Emir also called for addressing past challenges such as delayed distribution of election materials and technical issues with election technology. He urged INEC to test equipment thoroughly before deployment and ensure officials and materials arrive on time at polling units to boost public confidence. He further appealed to political parties and supporters to conduct themselves responsibly, avoid hate speech, and uphold peace and national cohesion.
The INEC delegation remains in Kaduna and is set to meet with staff from North-West states on Monday, September 28, 2026, continuing their comprehensive assessment ahead of the 2027 elections. This ongoing engagement signals a proactive approach to building a credible, secure, and inclusive democratic process for Nigeria’s next general elections.
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