Presidency Dismisses Alleged Plot to Postpone January 16, 2027 Election

The Presidency has dismissed allegations of a plan to postpone Nigeria’s January 16, 2027 presidential election, describing the claim as fake news.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the Federal Government was neither planning to shift the election date nor aware of any such move.

His response followed an allegation by the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC), which claimed there was a plot to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the poll.

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ADC Campaign Council Raises Alarm

In a statement issued by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the ADC-PCC urged President Bola Tinubu to abandon any alleged plan to alter the election date.

The council also called on INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan to reject any instruction to change the date and publicly disclose any attempt to influence the commission.

“The election date belongs to Nigerians. It must not be rewritten behind closed doors at the Villa,” the council said.

The group argued that Nigerians should be allowed to assess the Tinubu administration’s performance through the ballot box on the scheduled election date.

It also cited rising living costs, declining purchasing power and economic hardship as reasons Nigerians should be allowed to exercise their democratic choice without disruption.

“A government that has made life this difficult for Nigerians must not be allowed to postpone its day of judgment,” the council added.

FG Describes Allegation as Fake News

Reacting to the allegation, Idris denied that the Federal Government was considering postponing the election.

“The federal government is not planning to shift the date of the election or postpone any election. This is not in the works; the federal government is unaware of this, and this is just fake news as far as we are concerned,” the minister said.

The government’s response directly contradicts the ADC campaign council’s allegation of an attempt to influence INEC over the election timetable.

However, the information provided does not include evidence substantiating the council’s allegation or indicate that INEC has confirmed receiving any instruction to change the date.

Election Date Controversy

The dispute has brought renewed attention to the importance of electoral independence and transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While the ADC-PCC has called for the protection of the announced election date, the Presidency maintains that there is no plan to postpone the poll.

The matter remains a dispute between the campaign council and the Federal Government, with no confirmed postponement announced in the information available.