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.

Atiku: I Will Restore Targeted Fuel Subsidy If Elected President

The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has reiterated his commitment to restoring a targeted fuel subsidy if elected president in the 2027 general elections.

Atiku said his position on subsidy had not changed, arguing that Nigeria, despite its economic challenges, has enough resources to protect citizens from excessive hardship.

“On the question of subsidy, my position has not changed and will not change: I will restore it,” Atiku said.

According to him, the strength of an economy should not be measured solely by how much revenue government generates, but by the purchasing power of ordinary citizens.

He said his administration would prioritise restoring value to workers’ wages, reducing the burden of transportation on farmers and making essential goods more affordable for Nigerian families.

“I want wages to have value again. I want farmers to move produce without transport swallowing their profits. I want families to fill their baskets without emptying their pockets. I want businesses to produce, employ and prosper,” he said.

Atiku argued that rising fuel prices have a ripple effect across the economy, particularly through transportation and food prices.

“When fuel rises, transport rises. When transport rises, food rises. When food rises, families suffer,” he said.

The former vice president said he would seek to break what he described as a cycle of rising costs that has placed Nigerians under increasing economic pressure during the nearly four years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Atiku, however, stressed that his proposed subsidy policy would be targeted and would not amount to a return to what he described as an import racket.

“I will support Nigerian production, reduce energy costs and restore purchasing power. I will not restore the import racket; I will restore relief,” he said.

He reiterated the position on Tuesday while receiving members of the Osun State leadership of the ADC in Abuja.

Atiku said his economic agenda would focus on making the naira in Nigerians’ pockets more valuable, reducing the cost of living and improving economic and physical security.

“Economic security. Physical security. A better life for every Nigerian,” he said.

His latest position comes as the 2027 presidential race continues to gather momentum, with opposition parties and candidates presenting different approaches to the country’s economic challenges and the removal of fuel subsidy.

INEC to Conduct Nationwide Mock Accreditation Exercise in November 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November 2026 as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while receiving the Chargé d’Affaires of the Canadian High Commission to Nigeria, David Sproule, and other officials during a courtesy visit to the commission’s headquarters.

Amupitan said the exercise would provide an opportunity to test the commission’s electoral technology and other equipment ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to him, the mock accreditation will subject the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other electoral equipment to a rigorous field test across the country.

He said the exercise was designed to help INEC identify and resolve potential operational challenges before the general elections.

The INEC chairman stressed that the commission was determined to build on lessons learnt from recent off-cycle elections and improve its preparedness for the 2027 electoral cycle.

The nationwide exercise is expected to give INEC an opportunity to assess the functionality of its accreditation systems under conditions similar to those that will be experienced during the actual elections.

The commission has continued to carry out preparations for the 2027 general elections as political parties and candidates begin their campaigns for the presidential, National Assembly and other elections.

Seriake Dickson Congratulates Adeleke, Calls for Unity After Osun Election

Former Bayelsa State Governor and Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the just-concluded Osun State governorship election.

Dickson described Adeleke’s victory as significant not only for the governor and the people of Osun State but also for Nigeria’s democracy.

In a statement, the former governor said the election demonstrated that Nigerians could still assert their democratic will through the ballot despite what he described as an increasingly challenging political environment.

“I warmly congratulate the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator Ademola Adeleke, on his victory in the Osun State Governorship Election,” Dickson said.

He commended the people of Osun State for standing firm in defence of their democratic choice, while urging other contestants who lost the election to accept the outcome in the spirit of sportsmanship.

Dickson called on the defeated candidates and their supporters to work with Adeleke towards maintaining peace and promoting the development of the state.

“I commend the people of Osun State for standing firm in defence of their democratic choice, and call on all those who contested the election and emerged on the losing side to join hands with the Governor in the spirit of sportsmanship and work for the peace and development of Osun State,” he said.

The former Bayelsa governor also wished Adeleke and the people of Osun continued peace, progress and prosperity as the governor prepares to begin another four-year term.

His congratulatory message adds to the growing reactions from political leaders following Adeleke’s re-election, with several figures urging the state to move beyond the intense campaign period and focus on governance and development.

Adeleke Condemns Arrest of Osun PDP Chairman, Calls for Immediate Release

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the reported arrest of the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday Bisi, shortly after he cast his vote in the ongoing governorship election.

In a statement issued on Saturday, August 15, by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke described the arrest as an attempt to intimidate political supporters and called for Bisi’s immediate release.

According to the governor, Bisi was allegedly arrested at his residence in Ilesa after returning from his polling unit where he had voted. Adeleke said the PDP chairman was subsequently taken to an undisclosed location, while no reason had been made public for the arrest.

The governor alleged that the incident was part of a broader attempt to prevent his supporters and party members from monitoring the collation of election results across the state.

Adeleke further alleged that security agencies were being used to undermine the electoral process and claimed that the arrests could provide room for manipulation at various collation centres.

“This is the biggest assault on democracy, and I urge everyone involved in this desperate attempt to upturn the will of our people through the use of state institutions,” the governor said.

He called for the immediate release of Bisi and other political detainees allegedly arrested across Osun State.

According to Adeleke, elections should allow citizens to freely choose their preferred candidates without intimidation, threats or force.

Meanwhile, in a separate message on Saturday, Adeleke commended Osun residents for turning out in large numbers to participate in the governorship election.

The governor said the safety of voters remained paramount as the process moved from voting to the collation of results.

“The safety and protection of our people is paramount,” Adeleke said.

He urged security agencies deployed for the election to remain vigilant during the collation of results from polling units to wards and local government areas.

Adeleke also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the highest standards of integrity throughout the collation and declaration process.

“Democracy is at its strongest when we honor the wishes of our people and protect the sanctity of their votes,” he said.

The governor urged Osun residents to remain peaceful, law-abiding and committed to the democratic process as the results are collated.

“Let the people’s will prevail,” Adeleke added.

The allegations surrounding Bisi’s arrest have not been independently established, and the circumstances surrounding the reported arrest remained unclear at the time of publication.

Sowore Leads AAC Campaign Walk in Osogbo, Says Osun Is Ready for Change

Omoyele Sowore has joined supporters of the African Action Congress (AAC) in Osogbo, Osun State, in a fresh campaign mobilisation for the party’s governorship candidate, Olajide Esan.

Sowore shared images and a message from the campaign on Wednesday, August 12, saying the streets of Osogbo were filled with supporters who turned out to back Esan ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

According to Sowore, the turnout reflected what he described as a growing desire among Osun residents for a different political direction.

“Today in Osogbo, Osun State, the streets came alive as we turned out in force to give our powerful support to the AAC gubernatorial candidate, Olajide Esan,” Sowore said.

He described the atmosphere as energetic and said the campaign was taking the party’s message of what he called “revolutionary change” directly to residents.

“The energy was electric, the enthusiasm was unmistakable, and the message from the people was clear to the effect that Osun is ready for a new direction!” he added.

The latest mobilisation comes just three days before the August 15 Osun governorship election, which has generated intense political activity across the state.

Esan, a 39-year-old entrepreneur and geographer, emerged as the AAC governorship candidate in December 2025. He is contesting alongside his running mate, Bello Muideen Yekeen. The Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list of candidates included Esan among those cleared to contest the election. 

In recent days, Esan has continued to campaign around a message of citizen-centred governance, arguing that political leadership should serve the people rather than concentrate decision-making in the hands of politicians.

At a recent engagement in Osogbo, the AAC candidate said governance should return to the people and that leaders should be accountable to citizens. 

The campaign has also positioned Esan as an alternative to the major political parties contesting the election.

The AAC candidate has previously criticised rival candidates over their absence from a media-organised governorship debate, arguing that voters deserve the opportunity to hear candidates explain their plans and answer questions about the future of the state. 

Sowore’s appearance in Osogbo therefore adds another layer to the final stage of the AAC campaign. The activist and politician has remained one of the most prominent voices associated with the party since its formation, and his presence is expected to boost the party’s final mobilisation efforts.

In his message, Sowore insisted that the movement would continue taking its message directly to voters rather than relying solely on conventional political campaigning.

“We are taking the message of revolutionary change directly to the streets and to the people,” he said.

He also declared that there would be no retreat from the campaign.

“The movement is growing, and there is NO GOING BACK!”

The AAC campaign has consistently used its “Take It Back” message as part of its political identity, with Sowore calling on supporters to mobilise around demands for fundamental political and economic change.

The Osun election is expected to be closely watched because of the number of prominent political figures and parties involved. The contest includes incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, ADC candidate Najeem Salaam and other candidates, including AAC’s Olajide Esan. 

With only days remaining before voters head to the polls, the competing parties have intensified their final campaigns across Osun.

For the AAC, Wednesday’s Osogbo mobilisation represents an attempt to demonstrate that the party has built a grassroots presence capable of challenging the established political forces in the state.

Sowore’s message also sought to frame the turnout as more than a campaign gathering, portraying it as evidence of growing public interest in an alternative political platform.

However, the ultimate test will come on election day, when Osun voters decide which candidate will receive their votes.

As the final campaign hours approach, all eyes are now on the state and whether the enthusiasm displayed at the various rallies will translate into votes at the polling units.

Sowore ended his message with the party’s familiar call to action: “AAC! TAKE IT BACK! ACTION!”

Osun Police Summon Senator Fadahunsi Over ‘Kill Accord’ Comment

The Osun State Police Command has summoned Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East Senatorial District, over his viral comments allegedly calling for members of the Accord Party to be killed ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The development comes just three days before the August 15, 2026, governorship poll, amid growing concerns over political tension and possible violence in the state. 

The police invitation followed widespread reactions to a video circulating on social media in which Fadahunsi, speaking in Yoruba, was alleged to have instructed supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to kill Accord members if they were seen in parts of Osun during the election period.

The incident reportedly occurred in Ilesa on Tuesday during an event at the palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland. According to reports, the senator was speaking during a gathering organised following the alleged killing of three APC members in Ilesa. 

In the video, Fadahunsi was quoted as saying that if Accord members were seen in Ilesa before the election, they would be killed.

The comments have generated strong condemnation, with concerns that such rhetoric could heighten tensions between supporters of rival political parties and potentially undermine the peaceful conduct of the election.

The Police Command has now moved to question the senator over the circumstances surrounding the statement.

A letter dated August 11, 2026, reportedly invited Fadahunsi to appear before the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 12, to clarify the circumstances surrounding the remarks. 

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Osun election, Samuel Etaifo Erale, reportedly signed the invitation.

The police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, also confirmed that Fadahunsi had been summoned by the Commissioner of Police.

“I can confirm that he (Fadahunsi) has been summoned by the CP. We will make a statement available regarding it,” Ojelabi was quoted as saying. 

The controversy has added to an already tense political atmosphere in Osun, where parties have been campaigning aggressively ahead of Saturday’s election.

Governor Ademola Adeleke has also reacted to the viral video, demanding action against the senator.

Adeleke described the remarks as more than ordinary political rhetoric, arguing that comments calling for violence could have serious security implications.

The governor said he had raised the matter with the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and called for Fadahunsi to be investigated and arrested. According to Adeleke, the IGP confirmed that authorities had seen the viral video and assured him that action would be taken. 

“This is now beyond politics. This is now a national security threat,” Adeleke reportedly said.

The latest development is particularly significant because the Osun election has already been characterised by accusations and counter-accusations between the major political camps.

The APC is backing its governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, while the incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration is seeking another term.

The Accord Party is also participating in the election, making the alleged threat against its members a matter of concern for the party and election observers.

Another APC-linked figure, Francis Eniade, has also reportedly come under criticism after a separate video circulated in which he allegedly told non-APC members not to come out to vote in Odo-Otin Local Government Area on election day. 

The two incidents have intensified calls for political actors to moderate their language and allow voters to participate freely.

The police invitation also comes at a time when security arrangements for the Osun election have been receiving increased attention, with authorities under pressure to prevent political violence before, during and after the poll.

For many observers, the concern goes beyond the individuals involved. Statements encouraging violence during an election can create fear among voters, discourage participation and increase the possibility of clashes between supporters of competing parties.

The Osun State governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expected to oversee the poll.

As political parties make their final push for votes, attention will now turn to how the police handle the investigation into Fadahunsi’s alleged remarks and whether further action will follow.

The senator’s summons does not, by itself, establish guilt. The police are expected to hear his explanation and determine the appropriate next steps based on the outcome of their investigation.

With only days remaining before voters head to the polls, the latest controversy has once again placed political language and election security at the centre of the Osun campaign.

The expectation among residents, political parties and observers is that all sides will allow voters to exercise their rights without threats, intimidation or violence.