INEC Seeks Traditional Rulers’ Support for Peaceful 2027 Elections in Taraba

Nigeria Politics | October 24, 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for stronger collaboration with traditional rulers, community leaders and security agencies to promote peaceful, inclusive and credible elections in Taraba State ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

The appeal was made by Taraba State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Sa’ad Umar Idris, during visits to INEC offices in Yorro and Zing Local Government Areas as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots electoral administration and assess preparations for the forthcoming polls.

According to a report by Leadership, Idris also met with the Kpanti Zing, Alhaji Ibrahim Sambo, who pledged the traditional institution’s support for voter education and public sensitization ahead of the elections.

INEC Calls for Community Engagement and Electoral Security

Idris urged INEC personnel in Yorro and Zing to uphold professionalism, improve service delivery and strengthen public confidence in the electoral process, particularly during the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise.

He also highlighted the importance of involving civil society organizations, religious leaders, youth and women’s groups, persons with disabilities and other community stakeholders in efforts to prevent election-related violence and encourage wider participation.

The commission’s engagement with traditional rulers reflects the importance of grassroots communication in reaching voters, particularly in communities where local leaders can help explain electoral procedures and encourage peaceful civic participation.

INEC Reviews Facilities and Staff Preparedness

During the visits, the state electoral management team assessed the operational capacity of INEC offices in Yorro and Zing, inspected facilities and identified areas requiring improvement ahead of the 2027 elections.

Idris disclosed that renovation work would begin following the commission’s approval. He also said INEC was conducting professional training programmes at its national and state offices to improve staff capacity and electoral service delivery.

On security, the REC emphasized the need for stronger coordination through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), which brings relevant stakeholders together to address threats to electoral activities.

PVC Collection Remains a Key Priority

The voter education campaign comes amid concerns over uncollected PVCs in Taraba State.

In a separate report published on October 20, 2026, Premium Times reported that INEC had identified 29,314 uncollected PVCs in the state. The commission urged traditional rulers, political parties and religious leaders to help mobilize eligible voters to collect their cards ahead of the elections.

The outstanding cards highlight the importance of sustained public awareness and accessible voter services as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.

What This Means for the 2027 Elections

INEC’s engagement with traditional institutions is part of a broader effort to strengthen election preparedness and encourage peaceful participation.

Traditional rulers can help discourage political violence, promote voter education and encourage residents to participate without intimidation. However, peaceful elections will also depend on the conduct of political parties and their supporters, the professionalism of electoral officials, effective security arrangements and public confidence in the electoral process.

The success of these efforts will ultimately be measured by whether eligible voters can participate freely, electoral rules are followed and disputes are handled through lawful channels.

Source: Leadership Newspaper — INEC Seeks Taraba Traditional Rulers’ Support for Peaceful Polls.