The Olowu of Kuta in Osun State, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, has urged his fellow traditional rulers and the Federal Government to intensify efforts to prevent voter apathy in the 2027 general elections.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, Olowu advised traditional rulers to start sensitising their subjects about the importance of participating in the electoral process and voting on election days.
Oba Oyelude identified insecurity in some parts of the country as a factor likely to discourage voters and called on the Federal Government to enhance security for lives and property. He stressed the need for special attention to communities facing insecurity and continuous engagement with stakeholders to ensure high voter turnout.
“The Federal Government should help and make sure there is security of life and property before the election. Because apathy has set in already, even before the forthcoming general election in the country. What I mean by apathy has been set in already is that the security situation will naturally cause apathy.
“The number of voters in the last election in Kwara North, in Woro, in Niger, and in the Kontagora axis will be different from the number of voters this year.
“The number of voters in Maiduguri in the last election will be different now, ditto Kogi, and come to Osun, look at the Ora axis,” Oba Oyelude said.
He further emphasised that traditional rulers must act in ways that earn the trust of their subjects and motivate them to exercise their voting rights.
“And we as traditional rulers will continue to conduct ourselves in a way that will make our subjects believe what we tell them. That election is the only power they have to choose their leader and if you do not come out, whoever comes out decides your leadership.
“My advice to my royal colleagues, traditional rulers in their various domains, is to work hard, sensitise their subjects, their sons and daughters, to see reason to still come and perform their civic responsibility by coming out massively to vote.”
On the ongoing US-Israel-Iran crisis, the traditional ruler called for a diplomatic resolution.
“My advice to the world leaders on the protracted Israel-America-Iran crisis that has snowballed into the Middle East now is that they should allow diplomacy to prevail. I believe the world at large, every continent, is not short of diplomats of repute that could sit at the round table and iron it out,” he said.
Nigerians will vote on January 16, 2027, to elect the President and members of the National Assembly, marking the start of another national election cycle. State assembly and governorship elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, according to the revised timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Oba Oyelude frequently contributes to discussions on national issues, particularly security, culture, and tradition. He also challenged government authorities responsible for appointing royal fathers and scholars to identify cultural misfit traditional rulers who fail to uphold their people’s culture and traditions.
The Olowu made these remarks shortly after receiving an award from Osun State University, Osogbo, recognising his efforts in promoting Yoruba culture and tradition. The award was presented during the 14th Toyin Falola International Conference on Africa and the African in Diaspora, held at the UNIOSUN main campus in Osogbo.
