The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has urged traditional rulers across Nigeria to use their influence to caution politicians against violence and inflammatory campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the appeal in Minna, Niger State, during the turbanning of INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, as the Gimbiyan Raya Kasan Minna at the Emir’s Palace.
The INEC chairman called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct issue-based campaigns and avoid actions capable of disrupting peace and public order.
He also urged traditional institutions to use their moral authority to discourage politicians from engaging in hostility, mudslinging and campaigns of calumny as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Amupitan, voting is a fundamental constitutional right and should not be treated as a privilege. He appealed to royal fathers to help counsel political actors to campaign peacefully and within the law.
The INEC chairman also charged traditional rulers to play an active role in preserving peace throughout the electoral cycle, stressing the importance of peaceful political participation.
The appeal comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum across the country, with concerns growing over political violence, hate speech and other forms of electoral misconduct.
At the event, Oriaran-Anthony expressed appreciation to the Emir of Minna for the honour bestowed on her, describing the traditional title as a call to greater service.
She said the recognition would further encourage her commitment to community development, youth empowerment and the promotion of gender equality.
Oriaran-Anthony also called on parents across the country to provide equal opportunities for their children irrespective of gender, stressing that every child has the potential to contribute positively to the development of the family and the nation.
