NCDC DG: No Need to Postpone 2027 Elections over Ebola

Jide Idris, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), says there is currently no reason to postpone the 2027 general election over Ebola.

Speaking on Monday during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, Idris warned that a widespread outbreak could raise public health concerns that might affect the conduct of the polls.

“We hope not, because if the thing gets wide enough, there might be concern. As of now, there is no need for that,” he said when asked whether the outbreak could lead to the postponement of the elections.

The NCDC boss noted that the decision to postpone the polls was beyond his authority.

He also dismissed concerns that the government could use the disease as a political weapon ahead of the elections.

“We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon,” Idris said.

He said health authorities had been monitoring the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for months and anticipated that population movement and international flights could lead to an imported case in Nigeria.

Idris also cautioned against declaring Nigeria Ebola-free following the evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland for further treatment.

“We don’t have an active positive case. But we have contacts. We need to follow up,” he said.

He said health authorities would continue monitoring identified contacts and investigating additional suspected exposures.

Idris’s comments come amid concerns that Ebola could become a subject of political controversy ahead of the 2027 general election.

On October 22, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar asked President Bola Tinubu to account for the N10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness, seeking details of its release and utilisation.

In response, the APC campaign council accused Atiku of politicising Nigeria’s Ebola response.

According to the council, said the N10 billion remained untouched.

However, Atiku asked the council to explain why the money remained untouched since its approval.

The controversy has also fuelled concerns that the disease could be used to restrict opposition rallies or discourage voter participation ahead of the polls.