2027: INEC Urges Traditional Rulers to Mobilise Voters, Promote Peaceful Campaigns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on traditional rulers across Nigeria to use their influence to encourage voter participation and promote peaceful, issue-based campaigns ahead of the 2027 General Election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, made the appeal on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Riliwanu Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu, at the Iga Idunganran Palace in Lagos.

The visit formed part of INEC’s South-West Zonal Readiness Assessment and Staff Interactive Session, which marks the beginning of the Commission’s nationwide engagement across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 elections.

Amupitan said the South-West was selected to begin the exercise because of the strategic role played by Lagos and the region in Nigeria’s electoral and democratic processes.

According to him, the exercise is designed not only to assess the Commission’s operational preparedness but also to engage key stakeholders whose support can contribute to increased participation and peaceful elections.

The INEC Chairman formally informed the Oba of Lagos of the dates fixed for the 2027 General Election.

The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

Amupitan said INEC was working towards delivering a technologically driven, transparent and inclusive election, with continued improvements to its electoral processes, including online voter registration and result management.

However, he stressed that technology alone would not be sufficient to guarantee a successful electoral process.

“Technology alone cannot build a democracy; people do,” the INEC Chairman said, stressing the importance of citizens taking ownership of the democratic process through active participation.

He urged traditional rulers to use their moral authority to mobilise eligible Nigerians to complete the required voter registration processes and collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the statutory deadlines.

Amupitan also appealed to the Oba of Lagos and the Lagos Traditional Council to support efforts to ensure that political campaigns ahead of the election remain focused on issues and policies.

He urged traditional rulers to discourage politicians and their supporters from engaging in character assassination, hate speech, inflammatory rhetoric and campaigns of calumny.

The INEC Chairman said political actors should concentrate on presenting their policies and programmes to voters rather than attacking opponents, warning that the preservation of peace in Lagos and across Nigeria should take priority over political ambitions.

He also said the Commission’s nationwide readiness assessment was intended to ensure that INEC personnel remain professional, neutral and impartial in carrying out their responsibilities.

According to him, INEC had already engaged Resident Electoral Commissioners, Electoral Officers and Heads of Departments across the South-West, reminding them of the laws and regulations governing the conduct of elections.

Amupitan said the Commission remained committed to delivering a 2027 election capable of strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system and contributing to national unity.

Responding, the Oba of Lagos welcomed INEC’s decision to commence its zonal readiness assessment in Lagos and expressed optimism about the Commission’s leadership under Amupitan.

The monarch urged the INEC Chairman and National Commissioners to remain honest, firm and committed to their responsibilities.

Akiolu also called on politicians to move away from short-term patronage and focus instead on genuine capacity building and policies that improve the lives of citizens.

The monarch similarly backed the call for issue-based campaigns, urging political actors to avoid hate speech and inflammatory statements during the election season.

He called on traditional rulers to continue guiding their communities and encouraging eligible citizens to exercise their democratic rights.

Akiolu also appealed to the Federal Government to provide adequate and timely funding for the 2027 elections, stressing that INEC should receive the resources required to effectively carry out its constitutional responsibilities.

The meeting with the Oba of Lagos preceded INEC’s wider engagements across the South-West as the electoral body intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Election.

Hichilema Wins Re-election as Zambia’s President With 60% of Votes

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has been re-elected for a second five-year term after securing about 60 per cent of the vote in the country’s presidential election.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia announced Hichilema as the winner in the early hours of Tuesday, August 18, following an election that was held on August 13 and witnessed a tense vote-counting process.

Hichilema, who contested under the United Party for National Development (UPND), defeated his closest challenger, Brian Mundubile of the Patriotic Front-led Tonse Alliance, who secured about 38 per cent of the vote.

The result gives Hichilema another five-year mandate after he first came to power in 2021, when he defeated then-President Edgar Lungu and ended the Patriotic Front’s period in government.

The 2026 election, however, was not without controversy. Vote counting was temporarily suspended after election officials were attacked and ballot papers were reportedly stolen in some areas. The Electoral Commission later resumed the counting after security concerns were addressed.

The commission had also warned candidates against prematurely declaring themselves winners while the official results were still being collated.

Mundubile and his supporters raised concerns about possible irregularities in the electoral process and called for an independent investigation into some of the incidents recorded during the election. Hichilema’s camp rejected the allegations.

Despite the tensions surrounding the election, the European Union observer mission described the voting as largely peaceful while raising concerns about restrictions on freedoms and what it considered an uneven campaign environment.

Hichilema’s victory comes as Zambia continues to deal with significant economic challenges, including high living costs, electricity shortages and pressure on household incomes.

His first term was marked by efforts to restructure Zambia’s debt after the country became the first African nation to default on its sovereign debt during the COVID-19 era. His administration also worked with international lenders, including the International Monetary Fund, while promoting investment in the country’s mining sector.

The president has presented his economic record as a key reason voters should give him another term, pointing to improvements in debt management and economic stability.

However, critics have argued that the benefits of the economic reforms have not been felt equally by ordinary Zambians, particularly amid persistent concerns over the cost of living.

Hichilema now faces pressure to translate the economic reforms of his first term into stronger growth, more jobs and improved living conditions during his second term.

The president has also set ambitious targets for Zambia’s mining sector, particularly its copper industry. His administration wants to significantly increase copper production as global demand for the metal continues to rise, especially because of its importance to renewable energy, electric vehicles and other technologies.

Zambia’s mineral wealth has also made the country increasingly important to both Western and Chinese investors, with competition for access to critical minerals growing across Africa.

Hichilema’s re-election therefore gives his administration another five years to pursue its economic agenda while also addressing concerns over living costs, electricity supply, employment and political freedoms.

With the official results now announced, attention is expected to turn to the response from the opposition and whether any formal legal challenges will be filed against the election outcome.

“Agreement Is Agreement” - Keyamo Hails Adeleke for Endorsing Tinubu’s Re-election

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has praised Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, following the governor’s renewed endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election.

Adeleke, who was re-elected as Osun State governor in the August 15 governorship election, expressed appreciation to Tinubu for what he described as a free and fair election.

“I must deeply appreciate the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for a free and fair election,” Adeleke said.

The governor subsequently reaffirmed his earlier decision to support Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.

“I hereby reaffirm my earlier endorsement of him for a second term in the 2027 presidential election,” Adeleke added.

Reacting to the governor’s statement, Keyamo thanked Adeleke for what he described as his “public and unequivocal endorsement” of Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Keyamo also praised the Osun governor, describing him as a man of integrity and honour.

“Thank you, Governor Ademola Adeleke, for the public and unequivocal endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 Presidential Election. You are a man of integrity and honour,” Keyamo wrote.

He concluded his message with a phrase that quickly drew attention online:

“Agreement is agreement.”

Adeleke’s endorsement of Tinubu has remained a significant political development, particularly following his re-election under the Accord Party and the broader realignment of political forces ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The governor had previously declared his support for Tinubu despite belonging to a different political camp at the state level.

His latest statement indicates that he intends to maintain that position as political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election begin to gather momentum.

INEC Says 81.5% of PVCs Collected Ahead of Osun Election

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected ahead of the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

According to the Commission, Osun State has 2,339,233 registered voters, with the collected PVCs representing 81.50 per cent of the total number of registered voters.

INEC said the remaining 432,843 PVCs, representing 18.50 per cent, have been safely deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in line with the Commission’s established practice.

The Commission also disclosed that some registered voters whose PVCs were damaged, defaced or lost applied for replacement.

A total of 6,101 people who applied for replacement printed downloadable copies of their PVCs, according to the electoral body.

INEC said a detailed table showing the number of PVCs collected at each polling unit across Osun State has been published on its website.

The Commission also reassured political parties, civil society organisations, the media and residents of Osun State that it is fully prepared for Saturday’s election.

INEC said it remains committed to conducting a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive governorship election.

The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, on August 13, 2026.

The Osun governorship election will hold on Saturday, August 15, with the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking re-election against candidates from several political parties.

“The Best Nigerians Are Now in ADC” - Atiku Woos Osun Voters

Atiku Abubakar addressing supporters during the ADC campaign rally for governorship candidate Dr. Najeem Folasayo in Osun State.

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has urged voters in Osun State to support the party’s governorship candidate, Dr. Najeem Folasayo, describing the ADC as a political platform now attracting “the best of Nigerians.”

Atiku made the statement on Monday while addressing supporters at the ADC campaign rally in Osun State, where he appealed to residents to support the party in the forthcoming governorship election.

The former vice president used the occasion to remind Osun voters of their previous support for him during past elections, saying he had not forgotten the confidence they had repeatedly shown in him.

“My fellow Osun citizens, this is the fourth time I am standing on this podium. And each time I stood here, you gave me your vote. I cannot forget that,” Atiku said.

He recalled his previous visit to Osun during the governorship election, when he appealed to residents to support Governor Ademola Adeleke.

“I came here for the current governor, and I appealed to you to support him, and you voted him,” he said.

Atiku also recalled his presidential campaign in the state, claiming that Osun voters supported his presidential bid and voted against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“I came here on my presidential campaign, you voted for me, and you defeated Bola Ahmed Tinubu in this state. For me, I can’t forget that,” he said.

The ADC presidential candidate said his longstanding relationship with Osun voters was one of the reasons he personally attended the campaign to seek their support once again.

“I have come today to appeal to you again to vote ADC,” Atiku told the crowd.

He sought to distinguish the ADC from other political parties contesting for power in the state, arguing that the party had attracted a new group of Nigerians seeking political change.

“ADC, I can assure you, is different from APC, is different from Accord, is different from all other parties,” he said.

Atiku then made his strongest pitch for the party, declaring that some of the country’s most capable people had joined the ADC.

“Because the best of Nigerians are today in ADC. The best of Nigerians are today in ADC,” he said.

The statement appeared aimed at presenting the ADC as an alternative to the established political parties and encouraging voters who are dissatisfied with the existing political system to consider the party.

Atiku also urged Osun residents to support Dr. Najeem Folasayo, the ADC governorship candidate, in the election.

He expressed confidence that the turnout at the campaign rally was an indication of growing support for the party across the state.

“I thank you very much for your turnout, which is quite impressive, and that has given us optimism that the next elections, we are going to win and you are going to win,” Atiku said.

The former vice president’s appearance comes as political parties intensify their campaigns and mobilisation activities ahead of the Osun governorship election.

The ADC has been seeking to strengthen its presence in the state by presenting Folasayo as its candidate and relying on the party’s national leadership to mobilise support.

Atiku’s participation adds weight to the campaign as he remains one of the major figures associated with the ADC’s national political project ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

His message in Osun was, however, focused primarily on the immediate governorship contest, with the former vice president asking residents to reward the party with their votes.

Atiku also framed his appeal around gratitude, reminding voters that he had previously sought their support and received it.

He said he had come not only to request another vote but also to thank Osun residents for their previous backing.

“That’s why I have come personally to relate with you, to thank you for your previous support, and to appeal to you to vote ADC in the next gubernatorial election,” he said.

The ADC campaign is expected to continue its mobilisation across Osun as the party works to convince voters that Folasayo can provide a different direction for the state.

With the election expected to attract strong competition from the major political parties, the ADC will be hoping that Atiku’s national profile and the party’s growing political structure can translate into increased support for its candidate at the grassroots.

For Atiku, the message to Osun voters was straightforward: the people who supported him in previous elections should now consider extending that support to the ADC.

He concluded by thanking the people for their impressive turnout and expressing optimism that the enthusiasm displayed at the rally would eventually produce victory for the party.

The development adds another layer to the growing political contest in Osun, as parties continue to make their final appeals to voters and position their candidates ahead of the governorship election.

Osun Election: Adeleke, Oyetola Trade Words Ahead of August 15 Poll

The political battle ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election has intensified, with Governor Ademola Adeleke and former Governor Gboyega Oyetola exchanging accusations over the credibility and likely outcome of the poll.

Adeleke has warned Oyetola against any alleged attempt to manipulate the election, insisting that Osun residents will resist any action capable of undermining their democratic rights.

The warning followed comments reportedly made by Oyetola on Saturday while addressing All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and supporters in the state.

Oyetola was reacting to Adeleke’s recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was quoted as saying “A maa gba lowo e,” which translates to “we will snatch it from him.”

Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, described the statement as a threat to the conduct of a free and fair election.

The governor called on national and international democracy organisations to pay close attention to developments in Osun ahead of Saturday’s election, alleging that some political actors were determined to undermine the electoral rights of residents.

Adeleke also rejected the argument that his endorsement of President Tinubu was a sign of political weakness.

According to the governor, his decision to support Tinubu was based on political strength and confidence in his ability to mobilise voters in Osun State.

He further accused Oyetola of engaging in activities that he claimed were damaging the image of the President and contributing to the APC’s declining popularity in the state.

Adeleke also alleged that Oyetola had been coordinating police harassment of members and supporters of the Accord Party, while accusing some elements within the police command of working with political thugs.

The governor said the reported comments by Oyetola had strengthened his belief that the APC had lost the confidence of Osun voters and was looking for alternative means of securing victory.

“The bad news for the minister is that Osun people are determined to resist his sadistic agenda. Our people rejected him in 2022 and they will reject his surrogate candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, next Saturday,” Adeleke said.

He expressed confidence that he would win the election based on what he described as the support of the people.

Oyetola, however, has rejected the suggestion that Adeleke’s endorsement of President Tinubu would protect him from defeat at the polls.

The former Osun governor and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy told APC supporters that the President’s endorsement was not the issue determining the outcome of the governorship election.

According to reports, Oyetola said Adeleke should be concerned about the performance of his administration and the judgment of Osun voters rather than relying on his relationship with the President.

He also maintained that the APC remained determined to reclaim Osun State and elect its candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

Oyetola’s latest position comes as the APC intensifies its campaign across the state, with Oyebamiji presenting himself as the alternative to the Adeleke administration.

The APC candidate has promised to focus on economic development, agriculture, infrastructure and equitable distribution of government resources if elected. During recent campaign activities, Oyebamiji also urged voters not to be distracted by reports of possible violence, assuring them that the election should be peaceful.

The contest has also remained deeply personal for Adeleke and Oyetola, who faced each other in the 2022 Osun governorship election. Adeleke defeated Oyetola in that election and is now seeking another term, while the APC has selected Oyebamiji as its candidate for the 2026 contest.

Oyetola has since become a key figure in the APC campaign despite not being the party’s candidate. As Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and a former governor of Osun, he has remained actively involved in efforts to return the APC to power in the state.

The APC has also rejected Adeleke’s repeated allegations that Oyetola and other party leaders are planning to manipulate the election. The party has accused the governor of attempting to create excuses ahead of the poll and urged him to focus on campaigning rather than making allegations against the opposition.

The political tension has increased further following recent controversies surrounding security, alleged political violence and the freezing of Osun State Government accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC said it froze the state government’s account after investigating alleged financial irregularities involving about ₦11 billion in Ecology Funds, Intervention Funds and Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds. The commission said it acted after detecting what it described as suspicious movement of funds from the state’s accounts.

President Bola Tinubu later directed the EFCC to return to court and seek the vacation of the order freezing the accounts, citing concerns about the timing of the action only days before the governorship election.

The development has added another layer to the already tense political atmosphere in Osun, with the Adeleke camp accusing federal institutions of political interference and the APC insisting that government agencies must be allowed to perform their statutory duties.

Meanwhile, both major camps have continued to call for support from voters as the election approaches.

Adeleke is campaigning on his record in office and his claim that Osun residents want continuity, while Oyebamiji and the APC are asking voters to reject the incumbent and return the party to power.

With just days to the August 15 election, the exchange between Adeleke and Oyetola has further highlighted the high stakes surrounding the poll.

The election is expected to attract significant national attention, particularly because of the involvement of President Tinubu, the political history between Adeleke and Oyetola, and the wider struggle between the APC and the opposition in the state.

For voters, however, the central issue remains who will govern Osun for the next four years.

As the campaigns enter their final stage, both sides have insisted that they have the support of the electorate. The final decision will ultimately rest with Osun voters when they head to the polling units on August 15.