The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, on Sunday appealed to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR, to use his influence to promote non-violent and issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan made the call during a courtesy visit to the Emir’s palace in Zaria, Kaduna State. The visit forms part of INEC’s nationwide Zonal Readiness Assessment and Interactive Staff Engagement in preparation for the polls.
“Elections must never be treated as do-or-die affairs, but as a peaceful celebration of civic choice,” the INEC chairman said. He urged the monarch to strongly counsel young people against allowing themselves to be used as tools of political violence or thuggery.
Amupitan also called on the Emir to encourage residents of Zazzau Emirate to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards and turn out peacefully to vote, stressing that a vibrant democracy depends on an engaged and informed electorate.
He explained that engagement with traditional rulers is an established tradition of the Commission. Similar consultations were held 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 before the Osun governorship poll, and the Oba of Lagos together with the White Cap Chiefs during the South-West zonal assessment.
Conducting elections in Africa’s largest democracy, with a national voter register rapidly approaching 100 million, requires early planning, operational discipline and deep stakeholder engagement, Amupitan noted. He said the Commission has shifted from last-minute logistics to systematic testing, auditing and strengthening of its readiness well ahead of time.
The INEC chairman disclosed the statutory dates for the 2027 general elections: the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 16 January 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, 6 February 2027.
He assured the Emirate that under his leadership INEC remains fully committed to neutrality, fairness and transparency, adding that the Commission has “no candidate, no political party, and no interest other than the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.” All administrative, technological and logistical frameworks are being reinforced across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Responding, the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, commended Amupitan for the visit and for providing timely information on the Commission’s preparations and election calendar. He described the engagement as important and helpful in clarifying the electoral roadmap for the Emirate and its people.
Bamalli identified fairness, justice, a level playing field, security, timely information and prompt release of results as essential for a credible process. He urged INEC to address recurring concerns from previous elections, particularly the late distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials and technical challenges with election technology.
The Emir called for thorough testing of equipment before deployment and for officials and materials to arrive at polling units on time, measures he said would boost public confidence. He also appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct campaigns responsibly and minimise hate speech that could threaten peace and national cohesion.
Bamalli expressed optimism that Nigeria would remain united and continue to sustain democratic governance.
The INEC chairman and his team are currently in Kaduna as part of the ongoing nationwide readiness assessment. They are scheduled to meet with staff from the North-West states on Monday, 28 September 2026.
