By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out plans to postpone the 2027 general elections, insisting that the polls will hold as scheduled despite growing concerns and misinformation surrounding the Ebola outbreak.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance on Saturday, October 31, 2026, during an interactive meeting with commission officials from the six South-South states in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Amupitan said the commission’s statutory timetable had been fixed and would not be altered, stressing that preparations for the elections were already underway.
“Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled,” he declared.
His statement comes amid speculation and allegations by some political parties that the commission could postpone the 2027 elections, particularly following concerns that the Ebola outbreak might disrupt political activities and voting.
The issue gained attention after the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, said there was currently no need to postpone the elections over the outbreak.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on October 26, Idris explained that although a widespread outbreak could raise public health concerns, there was no justification for shifting the polls at the moment.
He also dismissed suggestions that the government could use the disease as a political weapon.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council had earlier raised concerns over an alleged plot to use the Ebola outbreak as grounds for postponing the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
However, the council did not provide evidence to substantiate its allegation.
Reaffirming INEC’s commitment to the electoral timetable, Amupitan said the commission was working with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral personnel and election materials.
He also warned that the commission would not encourage Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards only to leave their safety unprotected when they turn out to vote.
The INEC chairman further disclosed that the commission had received more than 5,000 requests for corrections to the preliminary voters’ register and over 600 objections, which were being addressed ahead of the release of the final register on December 15, 2026.
According to INEC’s published timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
Amupitan maintained that the commission remained committed to conducting peaceful, transparent and credible elections, urging its officials to remain focused on their responsibilities.
