RismadarVoice Reporters
October 29, 2026
The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed allegations that it is planning to postpone Nigeria’s presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, describing the claims as false.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, rejected the allegation on Thursday, insisting that the government had neither considered nor initiated any arrangement to change the election timetable.
The denial followed claims by the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was allegedly considering pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the poll.
Idris maintained that the Federal Government was unaware of any such proposal and had no intention of interfering with the scheduled election date.
The controversy began after the ADC campaign council stated on Wednesday through its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu.
Shaibu alleged that INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, could be summoned to the Presidential Villa and pressured to alter the election timetable.
However, the opposition council did not provide evidence establishing that such a meeting had been arranged or that any formal request for postponement had been made.
The ADC urged President Tinubu to distance himself from any attempt to change the election date and called on Amupitan to reject political interference.
The council argued that Nigerians should be allowed to assess the administration’s performance through the ballot box as scheduled.
It also expressed concern that the Ebola outbreak could be cited as justification for delaying the election.
According to the opposition party, any proposal to alter the timetable on public health grounds should be supported by credible medical evidence and subjected to public scrutiny.
The council urged health authorities to continue containing the outbreak while calling on INEC to introduce appropriate measures to protect voters and election officials.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention had indicated that the prevailing public health situation did not currently warrant postponement of the general election.
INEC’s published electoral calendar continues to list January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.
The electoral commission has not announced any change to those dates.
The dispute comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, with concerns over electoral credibility, public health and political interference attracting increased attention.
For now, the alleged postponement remains unsubstantiated, while the Federal Government maintains that the election timetable will not be altered.
