The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that the 2027 general elections could be postponed if the ongoing Ebola outbreak spreads widely across the country.
The Director General of the NCDC, Jide Idris, said the possibility of postponement would depend on the extent of the outbreak and the public health risks it could pose.
Nigeria is preparing for the 2027 general elections, scheduled to begin in January, as political parties and prospective candidates intensify their preparations. However, the recent emergence of Ebola cases has raised concerns about the potential impact of the outbreak on national activities.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Idris stressed that health authorities would not use the outbreak as a political tool.
He said, “We in the health sector did not use disease issues as a political weapon.
“We hope the election will not be postponed but if the thing gets wide enough that might be considered, as at now there is no need for that.
“This Ebola thing started in DRC a couple of months ago and we were tracking, they said for you to track again there is a possibility that it may get here due to our population movement, flight into this country, and ports of entry, yet it came, no government will use Ebola as a political weapon.”
Idris explained that Nigeria had monitored developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, recognising the possibility of the virus reaching the country because of population movements, international flights and activities at ports of entry.
He maintained that there was currently no need to postpone the elections but said the government could consider the option if the outbreak expanded significantly.
The NCDC chief reiterated that public health considerations would guide any decision, expressing hope that the elections would proceed as scheduled.
