The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has raised alarm over alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government to shift the 2027 general election.
ADC-PCC in a statement by Director, Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, alleged that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, was summoned to the presidential villa with the aim to prevail on him to shift the election.
“We are raising the alarm before that meeting takes place. President Tinubu must abandon any such attempt.
“Professor Joash Amupitan must refuse any instruction to change the timetable and immediately make any such approach public.
“The election date belongs to Nigerians. It must not be rewritten behind closed doors at the villa,” the campaign council stated.
It challenged President Bola Tinubu to prepare to face the electorate if he believes he deserves another four years in office, and not seek more time through the back door.
The opposition party stated 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.
“A government that has made life this difficult for Nigerians must not be allowed to postpone its day of judgment,” it added.
The ADC-PCC admitted that Ebola is a serious public health concern, but noted that the Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said there is currently no reason to postpone the election.
“That position must not be twisted into a political excuse for delay,” it warned, stating that any proposal to change the election timetable must be made openly, supported by published health evidence and subjected to public scrutiny.
“The presidency must not use a health emergency to escape an electoral verdict,” ADC-PCC said, and called on domestic and international election observers to monitor development in the nation’s electoral process.
