Nigeria: Alleged Plot to Shift Poll - It's Fake News, We're Unaware - Presidency

What the report says

Nigeria’s Presidency has rejected claims that the federal government is planning to move the January 16 presidential election, calling the allegation false. Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the administration was unaware of any such move and insisted that no postponement was being prepared. The response came after the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council, or ADC-PCC, warned that there were efforts to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, into changing the timetable.

According to the report, the ADC-PCC said it had heard that INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan could be summoned to the Presidential Villa and directed to alter the schedule. The council urged President Bola Tinubu not to seek any delay and called on INEC to make public any attempt to change the election date. It also argued that Nigerians should be allowed to vote as planned, while saying public health concerns should be handled by experts and not used as a reason for political delay.

In a separate development, the House of Representatives resolved to ask INEC to brief lawmakers on its readiness for the 2027 general elections. The request is meant to cover voter registration, PVC production and distribution, logistics, technology, staffing, security and funding. Lawmakers said the commission should provide a status update within seven legislative days.

The article says the House acted after concerns about registration equipment, personnel shortages and network problems at Continuous Voter Registration centres. Those issues, lawmakers warned, could affect turnout and public confidence if not addressed ahead of the next polls.