The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has called on the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, to deploy his traditional institution to promote peaceful and issue-based political campaigns ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
Amupitan made the appeal on Sunday, September 27, 2026, when he led a delegation of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the Emir’s Palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, as part of INEC’s nationwide Zonal Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement for the 2027 elections.
The INEC Chairman urged the traditional ruler to counsel political parties, candidates and their supporters against acts capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of the elections.
According to him, elections should not be approached as do-or-die contests but as an opportunity for citizens to freely exercise their constitutional right to choose their leaders.
“Elections must never be treated as do-or-die affairs, but as a peaceful celebration of civic choice,” Amupitan said.
He also appealed to the Emir to particularly engage youths in the Zazzau Emirate and discourage them from allowing themselves to be used by politicians to perpetrate violence, thuggery and other electoral offences.
The INEC Chairman stressed that the active participation of citizens remained essential to the success of the democratic process, urging the people of the emirate to participate in all stages of the electoral cycle.
He specifically called for increased participation in the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and peaceful turnout on election days.
“A vibrant democracy requires an engaged, informed, and participating electorate,” he said.
Amupitan explained that the visit to the Emir was consistent with INEC’s longstanding practice of engaging traditional institutions as critical stakeholders in the electoral process.
He recalled that the Commission had undertaken similar consultations with traditional rulers during preparations for previous off-cycle elections, including engagements with the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti ahead of the Ekiti Governorship Election.
He also cited engagements with more than 50 traditional rulers in Osun State, including the Ooni of Ife and the Ataoja of Osogbo, ahead of the Osun Governorship Election, as well as consultations with the Oba of Lagos and the White Cap Chiefs during INEC’s South-West Zonal Assessment tour.
According to him, such engagements were necessary because traditional rulers occupy strategic positions within their communities and can contribute significantly to voter education, peaceful participation and the prevention of electoral violence.
The INEC Chairman said preparations for the 2027 General Elections had commenced early because of the scale and complexity involved in conducting a national election in Nigeria, which he described as Africa’s largest democracy.
He noted that with the national voter register rapidly approaching the 100 million mark, the Commission could not afford to rely on last-minute preparations.
Amupitan said INEC had therefore shifted emphasis from late logistics arrangements to early testing, auditing and strengthening of its operational systems ahead of the elections.
He disclosed that the Commission had fixed the statutory dates for the 2027 General Elections, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
He assured the Emir and the people of Zazzau that INEC was working to strengthen its administrative, technological and logistical frameworks across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The INEC Chairman also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to neutrality and transparency, saying the electoral body under his leadership would remain focused on protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
“INEC remains unreservedly committed to absolute neutrality, fairness, and transparency,” he said, adding that the Commission had “no candidate, no political party, and no interest other than the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”
Responding, the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, commended the INEC Chairman for personally leading the delegation to the palace and for providing information on the Commission’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
Bamalli described the engagement as important and timely, saying the visit had provided the Emirate and its people with a clearer understanding of INEC’s preparations and the timetable for the elections.
The Emir identified fairness, justice, a level playing field for political actors, security, timely dissemination of electoral information and the prompt declaration of results as important factors in ensuring a successful electoral process.
He, however, urged INEC to address concerns that had emerged from previous elections, particularly delays in the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials.
The traditional ruler also raised concerns about technical challenges associated with the deployment of election technology, urging the Commission to ensure that electoral equipment was adequately tested before being deployed for use.
He further called for election officials and materials to arrive at polling units on time, stressing that proper logistics and timely deployment would help strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
The Emir equally appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the campaign period and refrain from hate speech and other activities capable of threatening peace and national cohesion.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria would continue to preserve its unity and sustain democratic governance through peaceful and credible electoral processes.
