2027 Election: January 16 date a trap to disenfranchise millions, coalition alleges

The Coalition for a New Nigeria has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of allegedly plotting to disenfranchise millions of Nigerians in the 2027 general election, claiming that the January 16 date would prevent many voters from participating in the exercise.

The coalition alleged that holding the election shortly after the Christmas festivities could affect millions of Nigerians who travel to their hometowns during the yuletide, particularly Christians and southerners living and working in major cities across the country.

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The group made the allegation at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, convened by the Peter Obi Mandate Actualisation Group (POMAG), the Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC), the Office of the Director of Support Groups and the Nigeria Democratic Congress National Campaign Council.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the National Coordinator of POMAG, Rev. Innocent Udochukwu, alleged that the proposed election timing was a calculated attempt to suppress votes rather than an administrative decision.

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“Who are the targets? The millions of Nigerian Christians and southerners who live and work in Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Port Harcourt but traditionally travel home to the East and Middle Belt for Christmas,” he said.

Udochukwu further alleged that the coalition had received information suggesting that the government could exploit a possible Ebola outbreak to restrict movement after the Christmas celebrations.

“Our credible intelligence from inside the system is chilling: The APC government is plotting to allow this mass exodus for Christmas, and then use a sudden Ebola outbreak as an excuse to declare a total lockdown from January 1, 2027,” he alleged.

According to him, such a development could prevent millions of Nigerians from returning to their places of voter registration in time to participate in the election.

“The objective? To trap millions stranded! Millions deliberately locked out of the ballot! Millions denied their constitutional right!” he said.

Describing the alleged plan as voter suppression, Udochukwu accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of engaging in political manoeuvres capable of undermining the credibility of the 2027 general election.

“Nigeria has seen political strategists before, but we have never seen a government as strategically devious and cunning as the Tinubu administration. This is dark politics at its peak,” he said.

The coalition, however, declared that it would resist any attempt to manipulate the electoral process, insisting that Nigerians must be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

“We have a message for them: We are ready for you. We have matched you, and we will beat you at your own game. Your era of governing by deception is over,” Udochukwu said.

The group urged eligible voters to remain vigilant, protect their votes and take steps to ensure that they are not prevented from participating in the election.

It also advised Nigerians to reconsider travelling during the Christmas period and instead remain in the locations where they registered to vote, arguing that doing so would help them avoid potential difficulties on election day.

Udochukwu also alleged that supporters of Peter Obi had been threatened with political intimidation, including references to what he described as the “Abiola treatment,” should the former presidential candidate refuse to accept what the coalition called fraudulent election results.

“We have heard their empty boasts. We have heard them threaten Mr Peter Obi and the Abiola treatment if he refuses to accept their cooked-up, fraudulent results. We say to them today: All bullies are cowards,” he said.

He added that neither Obi nor his supporters would be intimidated by threats, insisting that the coalition remained committed to defending democratic rights.

“You cannot intimidate a man who carries the hope of 200 million Nigerians. You cannot threaten a movement that has already decided to be free,” he said.

Clarifying the group’s position, Udochukwu said the coalition was not advocating violence but was calling for vigilance and the protection of the electoral process.

“Let this be clear to the world: We are not preaching violence; we are preaching vigilance. But let no one mistake our civility for cowardice,” he said.

He warned against electoral malpractice, insisting that the coalition would not accept any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the 2027 election.

“Do not dare rig the 2027 election. This time, we will count whoever refuses to count our votes. This is not a threat; this is a statement of fact. It is a legitimate self-defence of our democracy,” he stressed.

The coalition called on Nigerians to remain politically engaged and defend their democratic rights, while urging electoral authorities to ensure that the 2027 general election is conducted transparently and that every eligible voter’s ballot is counted.

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