The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), on Tuesday commenced its nationwide zonal readiness assessment for the 2027 General Elections with a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Babatunde Akiolu, at the Iga Idunganran Palace, Lagos Island.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, who led National Commissioners, Directors and RECs from the South-West zone to the palace, said the visit was to seek royal blessings and the support of traditional institutions ahead of the polls.
“Before there were ballot boxes, there were palaces; before there were laws, there was the wisdom of our fathers. We are here to seek your royal blessings as we embark on this sacred national assignment,” Prof. Amupitan said.
He announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The INEC Chairman said the Commission’s goal for 2027 is to deliver elections that are technologically driven, transparent and inclusive. He added that the National Register of Voters is approaching the *100 million mark*, making the cooperation of traditional rulers critical.
Prof. Amupitan urged the Oba to help mobilize Lagosians to participate in the electoral process and collect their Permanent Voter Cards.
“Technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do. When a father speaks, his children listen. Your encouragement will go a long way in curing the apathy that often clouds our urban centers,” he said.
He also called on the Oba to counsel political actors to focus on issues rather than insults and to reject campaigns of calumny, ethnic rhetoric and violence.
“We are here to formally enlist Your Royal Majesty and the Lagos Traditional Council as powerful partners in keeping the peace and safeguarding our democracy,” he added.
In his response, Oba Akiolu welcomed INEC’s decision to begin the tour in Lagos and prayed for the success of the Commission.
“The core challenge confronting Nigeria today is a fundamental lack of discipline. Our youths possess extraordinary talent, yet a misguided minority remains resistant to order,” the monarch said.
He urged INEC officials to remain “unwavering, honest and steadfast” in their duty, and called on politicians to shun short-term patronage and focus on capacity building.
“Campaigning must remain strictly issue-based, free from hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric,” Oba Akiolu stated.
He also appealed to the Federal Government to ensure “full and timely funding for elections” to equip INEC to deliver its constitutional mandate.
Prof. Amupitan declared that INEC remains committed to fairness, impartiality and transparency, and is determined to deliver a 2027 election that will make Lagos, Nigeria and the international community proud.
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