2027 Poll: Opposition Alleges Plot to Force INEC to Shift Election Date

Nigeria’s opposition has raised concerns over an alleged plot to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into postponing the January 16, 2027 presidential election, warning against any attempt to alter the electoral timetable over the ongoing Ebola outbreak.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council raised the alarm on Wednesday, October 28, through its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu.

Shaibu alleged that the council had received information suggesting that INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, could be summoned to the Presidential Villa and pressured to change the election date.

However, the council did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation, and there was no confirmed indication that such a meeting had been arranged or that the Presidency had formally initiated a process to postpone the election.

The ADC urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject any attempt to alter the timetable for political reasons, insisting that Nigerians must be allowed to decide the country’s leadership through the ballot box.

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

The opposition group argued that the scheduled poll would provide voters with an opportunity to assess the administration’s performance amid persistent concerns over the cost of living, declining purchasing power and economic hardship.

Shaibu warned that the Ebola outbreak must not be used as a pretext for postponing the election, while acknowledging the importance of protecting public health.

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He called on health authorities to continue containment efforts and urged INEC to put appropriate measures in place to protect voters, electoral officials and other election workers.

The ADC also called on domestic observers and international election monitors to scrutinise any proposal to change the election timetable. It maintained that any decision to alter the schedule should be made transparently and supported by credible, publicly available health evidence.

The controversy follows comments attributed to Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), who said there was no current public-health justification for postponing the 2027 general election because of the outbreak.

Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has also cautioned against postponing the election or cancelling political campaigns because of Ebola concerns.

The allegations have added to growing political sensitivity surrounding preparations for the 2027 general election, particularly questions about electoral independence, public health and the need to maintain confidence in the democratic process.

INEC’s published election calendar lists January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

As of the latest reports, the alleged plan to pressure INEC remained an opposition claim that had not been independently substantiated. Any decision concerning the election timetable would therefore need to be assessed against official announcements and verifiable evidence, rather than political allegations alone.