The Independent National Electoral Commission has sought the partnership of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, and the Lagos Traditional Council in its efforts to promote peace and boost citizens’ participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the monarch at the Iga Idunganran, Lagos Island, on Tuesday.
The visit marked the conclusion of the Commission’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session.
“We are here today to officially enlist Your Royal Majesty and the Lagos Traditional Council as significant partners in maintaining peace and protecting our democracy,” stated Prof. Amupitan.
“Elections should be seen as civic celebrations of free choice, rather than as arenas for conflict or violence.”
Amupitan told the monarch that although INEC was deploying technology to strengthen the electoral process, the support and influence of traditional institutions remained essential to achieving a successful election.
“However, Your Majesty, technology alone cannot establish a democracy; it is the people who do so,” he remarked. “We respectfully seek your royal influence to assist us in mobilizing the good citizens of Lagos. We want them to take ownership of the electoral process, actively participate, and especially to turn out in large numbers when the time arrives. When a father speaks, his children heed his words.”
The INEC chairman noted that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters was approaching the 100 million mark, stressing that coordinating elections across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would require more than the Commission’s technical preparedness. He said the process also depended on “not only technical readiness from INEC but also the complete cooperation, peace, and moral support of our esteemed traditional institutions.”
Amupitan described traditional rulers as enduring pillars of society whose influence extends beyond the changing fortunes of politics. “Political parties and electoral commissions may rise and fall, but the traditional institution remains the constant foundation of our communities,” he stated. “You are the genuine guardians of our culture, peace, and social unity.”
He also urged the Lagos monarch to use his influence to counsel politicians against actions capable of deepening divisions as campaigns gather momentum. “We implore you, as a father figure to all politicians irrespective of their party affiliations, to guide them to concentrate on issues rather than resorting to insults. They should engage in debates about policies, not personal attacks,” he remarked.
The INEC chairman outlined three key requests to the monarch. He asked for royal blessings for the Commission’s leadership, staff and ad-hoc personnel who would be deployed for the elections nationwide. He also sought the monarch’s support in encouraging Lagos residents to complete voter registration and collect their Permanent Voter Cards, while urging him to sustain peace advocacy among community leaders, market associations, youth groups and political actors.
Responding, Oba Akiolu welcomed the Commission’s request and called on politicians to abandon short-term patronage and instead focus on meaningful engagement and empowerment of the people. “Politicians must shift away from the culture of short-term patronage and concentrate on real capacity building — teaching our people how to fish instead of merely providing them with fish,” the monarch asserted. “Campaigning must remain strictly focused on issues, devoid of hate speech and inflammatory language.”
The monarch identified indiscipline among some young Nigerians as a major national concern and charged traditional rulers with the responsibility of promoting civic consciousness and participation within their communities. “As Royal Fathers, it is our solemn responsibility to lead our communities and motivate citizens to participate actively in exercising their democratic rights,” he concluded.
Oba Akiolu further urged the INEC leadership to remain committed to its constitutional responsibilities. “I appeal to the Chairman and National Commissioners to remain unwavering, honest, and steadfast in your sacred trust,” he said, while also calling on the Federal Government “to ensure full and timely funding for elections, equipping INEC with every resource required to execute its constitutional mandate flawlessly.”
