INEC Chairman Amupitan Engages Traditional Rulers on Elections

On September 27, 2026, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan visited the Emir’s Palace in Zaria, Kaduna State, to seek the support of traditional rulers in combating election violence. He urged the Emir of Zazzau, Bamalli, to discourage youths from engaging in political thuggery, emphasizing that elections should reflect citizens' choices peacefully.

Amupitan encouraged residents of the Zazzau Emirate to actively participate in the electoral process by collecting their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and voting peacefully. He outlined that the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will occur on February 6, 2027.

The INEC chairman reaffirmed the commission's commitment to neutrality, fairness, and transparency. The Emir commended INEC for its timely information regarding the elections and called for improvements in addressing past challenges, including the timely distribution of election materials and the testing of election technology.

The INEC delegation continued its readiness assessment in Kaduna on September 28, 2026.