By Hassan Ibrahim
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, has called on traditional rulers across Nigeria to support efforts towards ensuring peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in the 2027 General Elections.
Professor Amupitan made the call on Sunday, September 27, 2026, when he led National Commissioners and senior officials of the Commission on a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, at the Emir’s Palace in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The INEC Chairman said the visit formed part of the Commission’s nationwide zonal readiness assessment and interactive engagement with staff and stakeholders ahead of the 2027 General Elections, stressing that traditional institutions remain important partners in promoting peace, civic participation and stability at the grassroots.
He said INEC had begun early preparations for the elections by testing, auditing and strengthening its administrative, technological and logistical systems, noting that the Commission had fixed January 16, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would hold on February 6, 2027.
Professor Amupitan appealed to the Emir of Zazzau to use his position and influence to encourage political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct issue-based and non-violent campaigns, while also urging traditional leaders to discourage young people from being used as instruments of political violence and thuggery.
He further called on the people of the Zazzau Emirate to actively participate in the electoral process, including collecting their Permanent Voter Cards and turning out peacefully to exercise their constitutional right to vote.
The INEC Chairman assured Nigerians that under his leadership, the Commission remained committed to neutrality, fairness and transparency, stressing that INEC had no candidate or political party and would protect the integrity of every vote cast by Nigerians.
Responding, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, commended the INEC Chairman and his delegation for visiting the Emirate and briefing traditional leaders and the people of Kaduna State on preparations for the 2027 General Elections.
The Emir said the visit had provided important information about the electoral timetable and other preparations, adding that fairness, justice, a level playing field, security, effective information dissemination and timely announcement of results would be critical to the success of the elections.
He, however, urged INEC to address challenges experienced during previous elections, particularly delays in the distribution of sensitive election materials and problems associated with electronic devices used during the electoral process.
The Emir recalled that during the last election, election materials arrived late at some locations, creating difficulties for voters and election officials, and called on the Commission to ensure that materials and equipment reach polling units on time and are properly tested before deployment.
He expressed hope that INEC would address the identified challenges and ensure that election officials and equipment arrive at polling stations at the appointed time, saying this would strengthen public confidence and trust in the electoral process.
Our Correspondent Hassan Ibrahim reports that the engagement between INEC and the Zazzau Emirate formed part of broader stakeholder consultations by the electoral body as preparations intensify for the 2027 General Elections.
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