LAGOS — Nigeria’s electoral umpire has launched an effort to partner with traditional rulers to prevent political violence and boost voter turnout ahead of the country’s upcoming 2027 general elections.
Prof. Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), met with the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, at his palace on Tuesday as part of a regional assessment of election readiness across south-western Nigeria.
Addressing the monarch, Prof. Amupitan urged traditional leaders to use their moral authority to stem rising political tensions and encourage civic participation in a country where turnout has historically lagged.”Elections are civic celebrations of free choice, not contests of conflict or violence,” Prof. Amupitan said. “Technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do. When a father speaks, his children listen.”With Nigeria’s national voter register approaching 100 million people across 36 states and the federal capital, election officials face immense logistical and security challenges.
Prof. Amupitan noted that while political administrations and commissions come and go, traditional institutions remain the “permanent anchor” of local communities.
He appealed to the monarch to counsel politicians to avoid divisive rhetoric, urging them to focus on policy debates rather than personal attacks as campaigning intensifies.
He also requested the royal institution’s help in encouraging residents to register to vote and pick up their voter identification cards.
Responding to the delegation, Oba Akiolu endorsed the electoral body’s appeal, calling on Nigeria’s political class to abandon short-term patronage in favour of long-term development.”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, adding that election campaigns must remain free from hate speech.
Oba Akiolu also urged the federal government to ensure full and timely funding for the electoral commission, while calling on INEC officials to remain impartial in executing their constitutional mandate.
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