The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, has urged traditional rulers within the South East to make sure peaceful conduct of the 2027 normal elections.
He gave the cost throughout INEC’s National Zonal Physical Assessment Tour within the South-East, undertaken as a part of complete preparations for the 2027 normal election.
Amupitan delivered this message in Enugu throughout an official courtesy go to to the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Igwe Sir Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu.
The Chairman, accompanied by National Commissioners and senior administration officers of the Commission, emphasised that the tour commenced on this zone with applicable recognition of its traditional establishments.
“We regard it as an indispensable administrative protocol and a profoundly valued customized to begin our actions in Enugu State by extending respect to the esteemed guardians of our cultural heritage, traditions, and group ideas,” he remarked.
He additional famous that the Commission had persistently prioritized direct session with outstanding traditional rulers throughout all geopolitical zones beforehand visited.
“The Commission has established as a core precedence the direct engagement with senior traditional rulers, acknowledging that royal authorities function the elemental pillars of group peace, civic participation, and social cohesion,” he elaborated.
In his account, the Commission had beforehand engaged with the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, and the Ataoja of Osogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II, each positioned in Osun State.
Additionally, he famous engagements with the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, in Lagos State, and the Emir of Zazzau, His Highness, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Prof. Amupitan elaborated on the targets of the South-East tour.
“Our engagement in Enugu and all through the South-East zone is directed towards assessing our operational capability within the area and evaluating the preparedness of discipline personnel in any respect ranges, together with the Registration Area (Ward) degree,” he said.
He stated the tour adopted a collection of operational exams beneath his management, together with three off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States, one Federal Capital Territory Area Council election and 16 bye-elections throughout the nation.
The Chairman famous that every of the workout routines had helped the Commission to refine election logistics, early ballot openings and technological deployments.
He recalled that the Commission, a number of days in the past in Abuja, hosted a world press convention and National Stakeholders Engagement to mark 100 days to the primary poll of the 2027 normal election, the place it reaffirmed its dedication to transparency, procedural integrity and strict adherence to its statutory schedule.
