The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has officially engaged the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, along with the Lagos Traditional Council, as partners in promoting peace and encouraging citizen participation in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
This was part of INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan’s address during a courtesy visit to the monarch at the Iga Idunganran, Lagos Island, on Tuesday, which concluded 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.”
The INEC Chairman conveyed to the monarch that while the Commission is implementing technology to enhance the electoral process, the collaboration of traditional institutions is crucial for its success.
“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.”
He emphasized that with Nigeria’s National Register of Voters nearing 100 million, effectively managing the electoral process across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory necessitates, as he put it, “not only technical readiness from INEC but also the complete cooperation, peace, and moral support of our esteemed traditional institutions.”
Prof. Amupitan characterised traditional rulers as the steadfast pillars of society, whose impact endures beyond the fleeting nature 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 specifically called upon the monarch to utilise his position to advise the political class against divisive behavior as election campaigns escalate. “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 formally presented three requests to the monarch: to seek royal blessings for the Commission’s leadership, staff, and ad-hoc personnel to be deployed across the nation; to leverage the throne’s moral authority to motivate residents to complete their voter registration and collect their Permanent Voter Cards; and to continue advocating for peace among community leaders, market associations, youth groups, and political actors.
In response, Oba Akiolu welcomed the Commission’s appeal, urging politicians to forsake short-term patronage in favour of authentic engagement with the populace. “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.”
He pointed out that indiscipline among a segment of the youth population poses a national challenge and tasked traditional rulers with the duty of guiding citizens toward civic involvement. “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.
The monarch also charged the INEC leadership to remain steadfast in its constitutional duties. “I appeal to the Chairman and National Commissioners to remain unwavering, honest, and steadfast in your sacred trust,” he said, adding a call on the Federal Government “to ensure full and timely funding for elections, equipping INEC with every resource required to execute its constitutional mandate flawlessly.”
