By Mercy Peter
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has called on traditional rulers across the South-East to mobilise grassroots support for the peaceful conduct of the 2027 General Election, stressing that their influence and moral authority are critical to electoral stability.
Amupitan made the appeal on Monday, October 19, 2026, in Enugu during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council and Chairman of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Sir Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu.
The visit marked the commencement of INEC’s National Zonal Physical Assessment Tour in the South-East, part of the Commission’s broader preparations to assess its operational readiness, evaluate personnel preparedness and strengthen electoral administration ahead of the nationwide polls.
Leading National Commissioners and senior management officials of the Commission, Amupitan said the decision to begin the South-East leg of the exercise with a visit to traditional rulers reflected INEC’s respect for the region’s cultural institutions and their role in promoting peace, community stability and civic participation.
“We consider it an essential administrative protocol and a deeply cherished tradition to begin our work in Enugu State by paying homage to the revered custodians of our culture, tradition, and community values,” he said.
The INEC Chairman explained that engagement with traditional institutions had been a priority throughout the assessment tour, noting that royal fathers remained influential partners in mobilising citizens and maintaining peace at the grassroots.
According to him, the Commission had previously engaged the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II; the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II; the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; and the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, as part of efforts to secure the cooperation of traditional institutions across the country.
Amupitan said the assessment tour was designed to examine the Commission’s operational capacity on the ground, including the preparedness of field personnel down to the Registration Area, or ward, level.
“Our presence in Enugu and across the South-East zone is focused on auditing our operational readiness on the ground and evaluating field personnel preparedness down to the Registration Area (Ward) level,” he said.
He added that the Commission’s preparations had been informed by lessons from recent electoral exercises, including governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states, an election into the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and 16 bye-elections conducted across the country.
The exercises, he said, had provided opportunities to improve election logistics, early opening of polling units and the deployment of technology in the electoral process.
The Chairman also recalled that INEC had recently convened a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders Engagement in Abuja to mark 100 days to the first ballot of the 2027 General Election, where it reiterated its commitment to transparency, procedural integrity and compliance with its statutory timetable.
He reconfirmed that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.
Amupitan said INEC could not achieve the objective independently without the support of community leaders and other stakeholders.
“While INEC manages the technical and administrative aspects of elections, the moral authority to ensure peaceful voting resides within our traditional institutions,” he said.
He appealed to the royal fathers to support the Commission in three critical areas: mobilisation for Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection, sensitisation against voter apathy and vote buying, and the promotion of peace and non-violence.
On PVC collection, he urged traditional rulers to encourage eligible citizens who had registered as voters but were yet to collect their cards to visit designated collection centres in their communities.
He described PVC collection as an essential step in enabling registered voters to participate in the electoral process, urging royal fathers to use their influence to ensure that no community was left behind.
The INEC Chairman also called for sustained grassroots campaigns against voter apathy, urging traditional rulers to educate residents on the importance of participating in elections rather than withdrawing from the democratic process.
He condemned vote buying, warning against the practice of exchanging votes for short-term financial gains at the expense of the people’s long-term interests.
Amupitan further urged the traditional institutions to use their influence to discourage political parties, candidates and youth groups from engaging in inflammatory rhetoric, intimidation or violence before, during and after the elections.
He said such interventions would complement the Commission’s collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which coordinates efforts among relevant institutions to provide a secure environment for electoral activities.
The Chairman disclosed that cooperation among security agencies was already producing results, citing the recent arrest of alleged kingpins linked to the kidnapping of National Youth Service Corps members, who constitute a significant part of INEC’s ad hoc electoral workforce.
“The DSS will arraign those behind these evil acts within the week,” he said.
Reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to credible elections, Amupitan assured the traditional rulers that INEC would remain impartial and transparent throughout the electoral process.
“Under my leadership, INEC remains unshakeable in its commitment to neutrality, transparency, and procedural fairness,” he said.
He added that every valid vote cast by voters in Enugu and other South-East states would be accurately reflected in the final election results.
The Chairman thanked Asadu and members of the traditional rulers’ council for their reception, counsel and continued prayers for national peace and unity.
In his response, Asadu, the Ogadagidi I of Edem-An Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, pledged the support of traditional rulers for INEC’s preparations and the successful conduct of the 2027 General Election.
He assured the Commission that royal fathers would encourage eligible residents who had registered but were yet to collect their PVCs to do so ahead of the elections.
“We promise that we will encourage our people to collect their PVCs,” he said.
A highlight of the visit was the presentation of kola nuts and traditional ornaments to the INEC Chairman in keeping with Igbo cultural customs.
Amupitan, in return, presented a plaque and souvenirs to the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council.
the INEC Chairman charged staff of the Commission in Enugu State to maintain strict neutrality, professionalism and accountability as preparations intensify for the 2027 General Election.
Addressing personnel at the Commission’s state headquarters on Monday, Amupitan said INEC had begun taking concrete steps to strengthen its operational capacity, with some non-sensitive election materials already arriving and contracts awarded for the upgrade of facilities.
“I am happy that some of the non-sensitive materials have started arriving. I am also happy that contracts have been awarded to upgrade our facilities,” he said.
He disclosed that the Commission was procuring vehicles and other logistical resources to support election operations nationwide, while additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) had also been ordered in preparation for the polls.
According to him, configuration of the BVAS devices and training of electoral personnel would commence soon, with the training covering provisions of the new Electoral Act as well as INEC’s regulations and guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 elections.
Amupitan stressed that the credibility of the electoral process depended significantly on the conduct of election officials, warning staff against any association or behaviour that could cast doubt on their impartiality.
“You don’t belong to any political party, and you should not be seen with any politician. You should be seen to be neutral. That is why, before an election, you must swear to an oath of neutrality,” he said.
He said INEC was working towards building a workforce recognised for its competence and professionalism across Africa, urging personnel to understand their responsibilities, demonstrate sound judgment and discharge their duties diligently.
“We want to have a workforce that will be one of the best in Africa. So, you must be professional in words and action, and you must be a master of your role. Be on top of your role and discharge your duties diligently,” he said.
The Chairman warned that the Commission would not tolerate misconduct capable of undermining public confidence in the elections, adding that staff would be held responsible for their actions and omissions.
“Accountability is paramount. We need to guard against any act that would undermine the sanctity of the election. There is a reward for good work and consequences for misconduct,” he said.
Amupitan said the Commission was working to ensure the timely deployment of election materials, activation of Registration Area Centres (RACs) and commencement of voting across polling units nationwide.
He also disclosed that INEC was collaborating with security agencies to protect electoral personnel, infrastructure and voters, while intensifying efforts to address threats against its regular and ad hoc staff.
The Chairman emphasised the importance of transparent and effective result management, urging personnel in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Voter Registry units to remain fully prepared for their responsibilities.
He said the effective coordination of logistics, personnel, technology and security would be essential to ensuring that the elections were conducted in accordance with established procedures and that the integrity of the results was protected.
Amupitan also addressed staff welfare, assuring personnel that the Commission remained committed to improving their working conditions.
He said a new salary structure for INEC staff had been approved, adding that the Commission was working to commence its implementation, which he said would take effect from January 2026.
The Chairman further disclosed that additional welfare packages were being considered to improve staff well-being and strengthen their capacity to deliver on the Commission’s mandate.
He urged personnel to reciprocate these efforts by demonstrating discipline, impartiality, dedication and accountability throughout the preparations for the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan expressed confidence that sustained investment in logistics, technology, personnel development and staff welfare, combined with the cooperation of traditional institutions and other stakeholders, would contribute to the successful conduct of the polls.
