The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sought the support of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, and the Lagos Traditional Council in promoting peaceful elections and mobilising citizens ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the monarch at Iga Idunganran on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The meeting came at the conclusion of the commission’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session in Lagos.
Amupitan’s engagement with the traditional institution forms part of INEC’s broader effort to involve key stakeholders in preparations for the 2027 elections.
The commission has increasingly emphasised the importance of collaboration with community leaders, traditional institutions, political parties and other stakeholders as it prepares for the next nationwide electoral exercise.
The INEC chairman has previously stressed that the commission must confront the challenges surrounding the 2027 election with greater commitment, discipline and preparedness.
The commission’s preparations come well ahead of the 2027 polls, which are currently scheduled for February 20, 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, according to INEC’s published timetable.
The engagement with the Oba of Lagos is expected to help strengthen public awareness, peaceful participation and voter mobilisation, particularly at the grassroots level.
Traditional rulers remain influential community stakeholders and can play a significant role in encouraging citizens to participate peacefully in elections while discouraging violence and other forms of electoral misconduct.
INEC is also conducting readiness assessments across the country’s six geopolitical zones as part of its preparations for the 2027 election.
The commission has said lessons from recent off-cycle elections will be used to identify weaknesses and strengthen its systems before the national poll.