Nigerian Presidency Dismisses Poisoning Plot Claims as INEC Pledges Electoral Reforms
The presidency has rejected viral reports alleging a plot to poison President Tinubu, while the electoral commission chairman assures technical failures from 2023 elections have been resolved ahead of future polls.
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Nigeria's presidency has dismissed as false viral claims that kitchen staff at the Presidential Villa in Abuja were detained over an alleged plot to poison President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, marking the latest in a series of unverified reports targeting the administration.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, refuted the allegations through his verified social media account on Sunday, according to multiple reports from The Nation and Naija News. The presidency's denial came after widespread circulation of claims suggesting a State House chef had been arrested in connection with a purported assassination attempt.
Electoral Commission Addresses Technical Concerns
In a separate development highlighting governance accountability, Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced that technical failures which marred the 2023 elections have been eliminated. Speaking at the Citizens' Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026 in Abuja on Sunday, Amupitan assured stakeholders that glitches affecting the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) during the previous electoral cycle would not recur.
The 2023 IREV malfunction had sparked widespread criticism and legal challenges, with opposition parties questioning the credibility of results transmission. INEC's pledge comes as Nigeria prepares for future electoral contests, with civil society groups and international observers having previously called for improved transparency in the commission's electronic systems.
First Lady Invokes Religious Accountability
Meanwhile, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu urged members of the National Assembly to remember their "ultimate accountability to God" while discharging legislative duties. Speaking at a dedication ceremony, according to The Nation, Mrs Tinubu's remarks reflected ongoing public discourse about ethical standards in Nigerian governance.
The convergence of these developments underscores persistent questions about institutional credibility in Africa's most populous democracy. While the presidency moves to counter disinformation, the electoral commission faces pressure to demonstrate concrete improvements to systems that failed during the contentious 2023 polls, which saw President Tinubu's victory challenged in court by opposition candidates.