Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concerns over a possible postponement of the January 16, 2027, presidential election in Nigeria. He made these remarks after meeting with the leadership of the TinubuMustGo movement in Abuja. Atiku, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), emphasized that the election must hold as scheduled, and that Nigerians should be allowed to decide the country's political future through the ballot box.
Atiku's comments come amid allegations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may be planning to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into changing the presidential election timetable. The APC had recently flagged off its presidential campaign in Kaduna State, which reportedly did not go well. Atiku alleged that there were indications that the election date might be shifted following the APC's experience in Kaduna.
The ADC Presidential Campaign Council had earlier raised concerns over an alleged plan to summon the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, to the Presidential Villa in Abuja to pressure him to postpone the election. The council warned against any attempt to influence the electoral umpire, insisting that the presidential election should proceed as scheduled unless a transparent and publicly justified reason emerged for changing the date.
The ADC campaign council accused the administration of potentially seeking additional time in office instead of allowing Nigerians to determine its future through an election. They argued that if President Bola Tinubu believes Nigerians want another four years of his government, he should face them at the ballot box, not seek more time through the back door.
The opposition campaign body maintained that the election date should not be altered through private discussions at the Presidential Villa, arguing that any decision affecting the electoral timetable must be transparent and properly justified. They also called on Amupitan to resist any alleged pressure to postpone the election and make public any attempt to influence the commission's decisions.
The ADC further argued that Nigerians should be allowed to assess Tinubu's performance and decide whether his administration deserves another term in office. The party cited rising prices, shrinking purchasing power, and economic hardship as reasons Nigerians should be given the opportunity to express their views through the ballot box.
The campaign council also addressed concerns about Ebola, acknowledging that the disease posed a serious public health challenge but warning against using it as a justification for postponing the election. According to the council, health authorities should be allowed to take appropriate measures to contain the disease, while INEC should put safeguards in place to protect voters and election workers during the electoral process.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar warns against postponing the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria.
- The ADC Presidential Campaign Council accuses the administration of seeking to postpone the election for additional time in office.
- The opposition party argues that Nigerians should be allowed to assess Tinubu's performance and decide on his administration's future through the ballot box.
