January 16, 2027 Presidential Election Date Remains Unchanged – Presidency

By Ayodele Oni

The Presidency has described as “fake” claims that the Federal Government is plotting to postpone the January 16 presidential election.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained that government is not contemplating any shift in the election date.

“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 reaction follows an alarm raised by the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, ADC-PCC.

In a statement by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the Council alleged that there was a plan to summon INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to the Presidential Villa and direct him to alter the timetable, barely 80 days to the election.

The ADC-PCC urged President Bola Tinubu to drop any such plan and asked Prof. Amupitan to resist any pressure and to make public any attempt to influence INEC’s timetable.

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

It insisted Nigerians must be allowed to decide the administration’s fate at the ballot after what it called three and a half years of high prices, shrinking incomes and hardship.

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

On suggestions that Ebola concerns could be used to justify a shift, the ADC said the outbreak is a serious health matter, but should not be politicized.

It urged health authorities to contain the disease while INEC puts in place safety measures for voters and officials, citing the DG of the NCDC as saying there is currently no reason to postpone the poll.”

The Council also called on INEC, local observers and international monitors to stay vigilant and insist that any proposal to change the timetable be done openly, supported by published health evidence and public scrutiny.

The Federal Government maintains there is no plan to postpone the election, while the allegation by the ADC-PCC remains unverified.