The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to shun violence and embrace issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the appeal on Sunday, September 27, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, at the Emir’s Palace in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The visit was part of the Commission’s nationwide Zonal Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement for the 2027 general elections.
“Elections must never be treated as do-or-die affairs, but as a peaceful celebration of civic choice,” Amupitan said.
He urged the traditional ruler to “strongly counsel our youth not to allow themselves to be used as tools in the hands of politicians or instruments of political violence and thuggery.”
The INEC chairman also called on the Emir to encourage residents of the Zazzau Emirate to participate actively in all stages of the electoral process, from collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to turning out peacefully to vote on election days.
ALSO READ: 2027: Ondo APC warns against selective support
“A vibrant democracy requires an engaged, informed, and participating electorate,” he said.
Amupitan said the visit was part of the Commission’s tradition of engaging traditional rulers, recalling similar consultations with the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti ahead of the Ekiti governorship election, more than 50 Osun monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife and the Ataoja of Osogbo, ahead of the Osun governorship election, as well as the Oba of Lagos and White Cap Chiefs during the South-West Zonal Assessment tour.
He said conducting a national election in Africa’s largest democracy, with the voter register approaching 100 million, required early planning, operational discipline and extensive stakeholder engagement.
According to him, the Commission has moved away from last-minute logistics towards testing, auditing and strengthening its operational readiness ahead of elections.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had fixed the statutory dates for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
He said the Commission was strengthening its administrative, technological and logistical frameworks across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Amupitan assured the Emirate that under his leadership, “INEC remains unreservedly committed to absolute neutrality, fairness, and transparency.”
He added that the Commission had “no candidate, no political party, and no interest other than the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”
Responding, the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, commended the INEC chairman for leading the delegation to the palace and providing information on preparations for the 2027 elections.
He described the engagement as important, saying it had provided the emirate with a clearer understanding of the Commission’s preparations and election timetable.
The Emir identified fairness, justice, a level playing field, security, timely dissemination of information and prompt release of results as critical to a successful electoral process.
He urged INEC to address concerns arising from previous elections, particularly the late distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials and technical challenges associated with election technology.
Bamalli called for election equipment to be adequately tested before deployment and for election officials and materials to arrive at polling units on time, saying such measures would strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
He also appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly during the campaign period and minimise hate speech and other actions capable of threatening peace and national cohesion.
The Emir expressed optimism that Nigeria would remain united and sustain democratic governance.
The INEC chairman and his entourage are in Kaduna as part of the nationwide readiness assessment and are expected to meet with staff from North-West states on Monday, September 28, 2026.
WATCH TOP VIDEOS FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE TV