The head of Nigeria’s electoral body has met traditional rulers in the south-east of the country to seek their support in ensuring peaceful and credible general elections early next year.

Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led a delegation to Enugu State on Monday as part of a nationwide assessment tour to evaluate local field readiness.

Speaking to the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, led by Igwe Sir Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, Prof Amupitan said royal fathers hold the moral authority to foster grassroots peace, boost voter turnout, and counter vote-buying.

“While INEC manages the technical and administrative aspects of elections, the moral authority to ensure peaceful voting resides within our traditional institutions,” Prof. Amupitan said, promising that every valid vote cast in the region would be accurately counted.

Crucial election dates reaffirmed

The visit comes ahead of national elections scheduled for early 2027:

• 16 January 2027: Presidential and National Assembly elections
• 6 February 2027: Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections

During the visit, the INEC chief disclosed that extra security measures are being coordinated through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to safeguard voters and electoral workers.

He noted that joint operations recently led to the arrest of suspects behind the kidnapping of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members—who form the core of the election ad-hoc staff—with formal court arraignments expected within the week.

In response, Igwe Asadu pledged the council’s full support, promising to encourage citizens across south-eastern communities to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).