The Nigerian Presidency has rejected as fake news claims that the Federal Government was plotting to postpone the January 16, 2027 presidential election. The denial follows a public alarm raised by the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) over an alleged plan to alter the election timetable.
Government response to election shift claims
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government had no knowledge of any such move. As reported by Vanguard, Idris stated: "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 ADC-PCC Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, had claimed the group received information that INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan would be summoned to the Presidential Villa and directed to change the election schedule, with roughly 80 days remaining before the poll.
ADC-PCC warns against electoral delay
The ADC-PCC called on Amupitan to resist any pressure and immediately disclose any such approach to the public. "The election date belongs to Nigerians. It must not be rewritten behind closed doors at the Villa," the council said.
It argued that Nigerians had spent three and a half years enduring rising prices and shrinking incomes, and must be given the chance to deliver their verdict at the ballot box. "A government that has made life this difficult for Nigerians must not be allowed to postpone its day of judgment," the council added.
House of Representatives to summon INEC
INEC is expected to appear before a House committee within seven legislative days and submit a detailed status report covering voter registration, Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) production and distribution, technology deployment, personnel training, electoral security and funding gaps.
The House flagged reports from Continuous Voter Registration centres showing problems with equipment shortages, limited staff, network failures and long waiting times, warning that these issues could shut out first-time voters, rural residents, persons with disabilities, students and workers from the process. Lawmakers also noted that lessons from the recently concluded Ekiti State governorship election should guide preparations for the 2027 polls.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Atiku challenged the Tinubu administration to publish a full breakdown of the ₦10 billion announced for Ebola preparedness in June. Atiku raised questions about a nine-day delay before the government publicly confirmed Nigeria's first Ebola case in Abuja after the patient sought care on October 11, 2026. The statement also accused the government of planning to use the Ebola outbreak to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies ahead of the 2027 elections.
