The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has appealed to traditional rulers to counsel political parties and youth groups against violence as preparations gather momentum for Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
Prof. Amupitan made the call on Sunday during a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Bamalli, in Zaria, Kaduna State, as part of a nationwide tour to assess the commission’s operational readiness across the North-West region.
Addressing the traditional council, the INEC chairman stressed that democratic contests should be treated as a peaceful exercise of civic choice rather than a desperate struggle for power. He urged the monarch to leverage his influence to discourage young people from being used as instruments of political thuggery and hate speech during upcoming campaigns.
The visit comes as the electoral authority intensifies early planning for an electorate expected to surpass 100 million registered voters. The commission has already fixed statutory dates for the national polls, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections set for Saturday, 16 January 2027, followed by Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday, 6 February 2027.
Prof. Amupitan assured the emirate that the commission maintains absolute neutrality, emphasizing that administrative, technological, and logistical frameworks are being tested and audited well in advance to prevent operational delays.
In his response, the Emir of Zazzau commended the commission for early stakeholder engagement but urged the electoral body to address recurring challenges from previous elections. The monarch highlighted the need for the prompt delivery of voting materials, rigorous pre-deployment testing of election technology, and transparent, timely release of results to strengthen public confidence in the democratic process.
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