The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has raised concerns over an alleged plot to alter the date of the 2027 presidential election, urging the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the poll proceeds as scheduled.

The council made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, alleging that pressure was being mounted on INEC to shift the January 16, 2027 election date.

It claimed to have received information that INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, could be summoned to the Presidential Villa and instructed to change the electoral timetable.

However, the council did not provide evidence to substantiate the alleged plan or establish that such a meeting had been arranged.

The campaign council urged President Bola Tinubu to abandon any attempt to interfere with the election schedule, while calling on Amupitan to reject any directive to postpone the poll and publicly disclose any such approach.

It maintained that the election date should not be changed through undisclosed political discussions, insisting that any proposal to revise the timetable must be transparent and supported by compelling evidence.

The council argued that Nigerians should be allowed to assess the administration's performance through the ballot box, citing rising living costs, declining purchasing power and economic difficulties experienced by citizens.

It challenged Tinubu to seek another term through the scheduled election rather than allow any action that could delay the electoral process.

On the Ebola outbreak, the ADC acknowledged the seriousness of the public health concern but warned against using it as a justification for postponing the election.

The council said health authorities should be allowed to focus on containing the disease, while INEC takes appropriate measures to protect voters, election officials and other personnel involved in the exercise.

It also cited the position attributed to the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control that there was no current reason to postpone the election.

The council called on INEC, domestic election observers and international monitoring organisations to scrutinise any proposal to alter the electoral timetable.

It insisted that any change should be announced publicly, supported by published health evidence and subjected to scrutiny by relevant stakeholders.

The group further cautioned against allowing public health concerns to become a source of political controversy, arguing that election preparations and disease-control measures should proceed simultaneously.

The allegations come amid increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with parties and political groups intensifying preparations for the contest.

As of Wednesday, the statement did not establish that the Presidency had directed INEC to change the election date. Neither the Presidency nor the electoral commission was quoted as responding to the allegation in the reports available.

The ADC council reiterated its position that the presidential election should proceed on January 16, 2027, with any change to the timetable justified by verifiable circumstances and handled through a transparent process.