The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sought the partnership of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu, and the Lagos Traditional Council to promote peace and citizen mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, requested on Tuesday, 8th September 2026, during a courtesy visit to the monarch at Iga Idunganran, Lagos Island.
The visit concluded the Commission’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session.
Prof. Amupitan said traditional institutions have a critical role to play in sustaining peaceful elections.
“We are here today to formally enlist Your Royal Majesty and the Lagos Traditional Council as partners in keeping the peace and safeguarding our democracy,” he said. “Elections are civic celebrations of free choice, not contests of conflict or violence.”
He noted that while INEC is deploying technology to improve the electoral process, public cooperation remains essential.
“Technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do,” he said. “We humbly request your royal voice to help us mobilise the good people of Lagos. We want them to take ownership of the electoral process and turn out in their numbers when the time comes.”
With the National Register of Voters approaching 100 million, the Chairman said successful conduct of elections across 36 states and the FCT will require technical readiness as well as the support of traditional institutions.
He described traditional rulers as key custodians of culture, peace and social cohesion.
“Political parties and electoral commissions come and go, but the traditional institution remains the permanent anchor of our communities,” he said.
Prof. Amupitan specifically urged the monarch to counsel politicians to focus on issues during campaigns.
“We urge you, as a father to all politicians regardless of their party affiliations, to counsel them to focus on issues rather than insults. Let them debate policies, not personalities,” he said.
The INEC Chairman made three requests: royal blessings for INEC leadership, staff and ad-hoc personnel; use of the throne’s influence to encourage voter registration and PVC collection; and continued advocacy for peace among community leaders, market associations, youth groups and political actors.
In his response, Oba Akiolu pledged support and called on politicians to engage citizens meaningfully.
“Politicians must move away from the culture of short-term patronage and focus on genuine capacity building — teaching our people how to fish rather than giving them fish,” the monarch said. “Campaigning must remain strictly issue-based, free from hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric.
The Oba also identified discipline among young people as a national concern and said traditional rulers have a duty to encourage civic participation.
“As Royal Fathers, it is our solemn duty to guide our communities and inspire citizens to turn out in large numbers to exercise their democratic franchise,” he said.
He urged INEC leadership to remain impartial and committed to its mandate, and called on the Federal Government to ensure timely funding for the Commission to carry out its responsibilities effectively.
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