By Bilesanmi Abayomi
As political consultations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the role of traditional institutions in Kosofe Local Government Area is drawing renewed attention, particularly over how monarchs engage with political candidates and aspirants.
During the party primary season, some members of the Kosofe Council of Obas and Chieftaincy Titles attracted public attention after openly identifying with particular aspirants, including instances where traditional rulers were seen raising the hands of preferred candidates.
The displays generated debate among residents and political observers, with critics arguing that traditional rulers should maintain a position above partisan politics as custodians of culture and tradition and as father figures to residents across political divides.
The outcomes of the primaries also illustrated the potential risks of such political alignments. While some of the aspirants backed by traditional rulers emerged as party candidates, others lost their respective primaries.
A Model of Traditional Neutrality
Some critics of public political endorsements have pointed to His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Saliu (Elebo II), the Oloworo of Oworonshoki, as an example of a more neutral approach.
According to accounts from the pre-primary consultation period, Oba Saliu received visiting aspirants and offered royal blessings without publicly raising the hand of or endorsing any particular candidate, despite his political background before ascending the throne.
Recent engagements between political actors and traditional institutions across Kosofe appear to have generally focused more on courtesy visits, consultations and royal blessings than on overt displays of partisan support.
Pre-Election Consultations Underway
Among the politicians consulting community stakeholders is Mayor Dele Oshinowo, the APC candidate for the Kosofe Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 House of Representatives election.
Oshinowo’s outreach has included engagements with traditional rulers, religious leaders, Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committees (CDCs), political leaders, media representatives, non-governmental organisations and community-based groups.
While Oshinowo’s campaign has been particularly visible in its consultations with traditional and community stakeholders, political activities by other parties and candidates have taken different approaches and timelines.
As the 2027 campaign season progresses, some residents and political observers are calling on the Kosofe Council of Obas and Chieftaincy Titles to maintain open access to candidates across political parties.
They argue that traditional institutions can provide a neutral platform for political engagement by allowing candidates from different parties to seek royal blessings and present their programmes without restrictions based on political affiliation.
Such an approach, they say, could reinforce the traditional institution’s role as a unifying force within the constituency as political competition intensifies.