INEC Seeks Traditional Rulers’ Support for Voter Mobilisation Ahead of 2027 Elections

INEC Seeks Traditional Rulers’ Support for Voter Mobilisation Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election with an operational readiness assessment of the South-South geopolitical zone, calling on traditional rulers to support voter mobilisation, peaceful participation and electoral security.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the palace of Eze (Barr.) U. Isaiah Elikwu, JP, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, First Son of Rebisi, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as part of the Commission’s assessment and stakeholder engagement in the zone.

Professor Amupitan highlighted the important role of traditional institutions in strengthening democratic participation, noting that credible elections require sustained engagement with communities.

He urged the traditional ruler and the Council of Chiefs to mobilise eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), participate in the 2027 General Election and support efforts to ensure peaceful, free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent elections.

The INEC chairman said engagement with traditional institutions was part of the Commission’s broader strategy to strengthen grassroots collaboration, promote peaceful coexistence and build public confidence in the electoral process.

Speaking on the Commission’s preparedness, Amupitan cited the successful conduct of off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States, as well as Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and 16 by-elections during his tenure.

He said INEC was building on these experiences to improve operational efficiency, strengthen logistics and ensure the timely deployment of election materials to polling units.

On electoral technology, he disclosed that the Commission was working to improve its processes, including the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). He also highlighted plans to reduce the voter threshold for BVAS deployment at polling units to ensure smoother accreditation and voting.

Amupitan urged eligible voters to take advantage of the display of the voters’ register to identify and correct errors before the final register is produced. He stressed that collecting PVCs remained essential for eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote.

He also warned against the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation, particularly through social media and artificial intelligence, urging traditional rulers to encourage their subjects to verify information before sharing it.

The INEC chairman noted that false information could undermine public confidence and discourage participation in the electoral process.

On election security, he reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to protect voters, electoral officials and ad hoc personnel, including members of the National Youth Service Corps deployed for election duties.

He added that intelligence-sharing and coordinated security arrangements were essential to addressing emerging threats, particularly in difficult-to-access and riverine communities.

In his response, Eze Elikwu welcomed the INEC delegation and expressed support for the Commission’s preparations for the 2027 General Election.

The traditional ruler assured the Commission of the willingness of traditional institutions to support grassroots mobilisation by encouraging eligible residents to collect their PVCs and participate in the elections.

He urged INEC to remain firm, fair and impartial in carrying out its responsibilities, while expressing confidence in its ability to conduct credible elections. He also pledged to work with other traditional rulers to promote voter education, peaceful participation and public confidence in the electoral process.

INEC Seeks Traditional Rulers’ Support for Voter Mobilisation Ahead of 2027 Elections