‘They Must Hold the Election’ – Atiku Warns Against Shifting 2027 Poll
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned President Bola Tinubu’s administration against any attempt to postpone the January 16, 2027, presidential election.
The presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), however, insisted that Nigerians must be allowed to decide the country’s political future through the ballot box.
Atiku expressed the concern on Wednesday after meeting with the leadership of the TinubuMustGo movement in Abuja.
The former vice president alleged that there were indications that the election date might be shifted following the experience of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during its campaign activities in Kaduna State.
The party had flagged off its presidential campaign in Kaduna on Saturday.
“Now I hear that they want to shift the date of the election because of their Kaduna experience. Whatever it is, they must hold the election, and when they hold it, we will vote them out,” Atiku said.
His remarks come amid rumours ahead of the 2027 general election and allegations by the ADC Presidential Campaign Council that there could be an attempt to pressure the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into changing the presidential election timetable.
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 January 16 presidential election.
In a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the opposition party alleged that information available to it suggested that the INEC chairman could be summoned to Aso Rock over the election timetable.
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 statement, titled “Tinubu Must Face Nigerians at the Ballot Box, Not Hide Behind Ebola,” accused the administration of potentially seeking additional time in office instead of allowing Nigerians to determine its future through an election.
“If President 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 council said.
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.
It also called on Amupitan to resist any alleged pressure to postpone the election and make public any attempt to influence the commission’s decisions.
“Professor Joash Amupitan must refuse any instruction to change the timetable and immediately make any such approach public,” the statement said.
The council added, “The election date belongs to Nigerians. It must not be rewritten behind closed doors at the Villa.”
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.
“Nigerians have endured three and a half years of soaring prices, shrinking incomes and relentless hardship. They have the right to judge this government at the ballot box on 16 January,” the statement said.
It added, “A government that has made life this difficult for Nigerians must not be allowed to postpone its day of judgment.”
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.
The ADC cited what it described as the position of the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, claiming that there was no current justification for postponing the election.
“Ebola is a serious public health concern. Health professionals must be free to contain it, and INEC must take every necessary step to protect voters and election workers,” the statement said.
“The NCDC Director General has said there is currently no reason to postpone the election. That position must not be twisted into a political excuse for delay,” it added.
