FG DISMISSES PLOT TO POSTPONE 2027 ELECTIONS AS ‘FAKE NEWS’

The Federal Government has strongly refuted claims that it is orchestrating a plot to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into postponing the upcoming January 16 presidential election.
​Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the allegations on Wednesday, labeling them as entirely baseless.
​“The federal government is not planning to shift the date of the election or postpone any election,” Idris said. “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.”
​Opposition Raises Alarm Over Election Timetable
​The government’s rebuttal comes on the heels of a warning issued by the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC). In a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the council alleged that the administration was plotting to compel INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to alter the electoral timetable with just 80 days left before the polls.
​The opposition camp urged President Bola Tinubu to abandon any thoughts of evading the electoral verdict, insisting that citizens must be allowed to register their verdict on the administration’s economic performance on January 16.
​Addressing rumors that a public health emergency could be weaponized to delay the polls, the ADC campaign pointed to assurances from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that there is currently no epidemiological justification to postpone the election. The council challenged INEC and election monitors to ensure any operational decisions remain transparent and immune to political interference.
​House of Representatives Summons INEC Over Readiness
​Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has waded into election preparations, resolving to summon INEC leadership to brief a legislative committee on its overall operational readiness within seven legislative days.
​Following a motion moved by lawmakers Mansur Manu Soro and Abdussamad Dasuki, the Green Chamber expressed deep concern over reported operational bottlenecks at Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) centers nationwide, including inadequate registration kits, network failures, and prolonged waiting times.
​The House directed INEC to submit a comprehensive status report covering:
​Logistics & Technology: PVC production, distribution, and technology deployment.
​Personnel & Security: Recruitment, training, and inter-agency security coordination.
​Budgetary Status: Funds released, outstanding allocations, and potential funding gaps threatening the 2027 polls.
​Lawmakers warned that unaddressed administrative gaps risk disenfranchising first-time voters, students, and rural residents, stressing that the credibility of the upcoming general elections depends heavily on timely and transparent preparation by the electoral commission.