The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, has said the 2027 general elections could be postponed if the Ebola outbreak spreads widely, although he stressed that there is currently no need for such a move.
Idris made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he said disease outbreaks should not be used as political weapons.
“We in the health sector did not use disease issues as a political weapon,” he said.
He added that he hoped the 2027 elections would proceed as scheduled but noted that postponement could be considered if the outbreak spread widely.
“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,” Idris said.
Nigeria confirmed one imported case of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Federal Capital Territory on October 20, prompting health authorities to activate emergency response measures and begin contact tracing.
The patient, a 42-year-old woman who had travelled to Nigeria from Uganda, was evacuated to Switzerland on October 26 after receiving treatment in Nigeria.
Following her evacuation, the World Health Organisation said Nigeria had no active Ebola cases, while 52 contacts remained under monitoring in the country.
The NCDC has continued surveillance and follow-up of identified contacts as health authorities work to prevent further transmission.
The situation remains under monitoring, and officials have urged the public to rely on verified health updates.
Idris maintained that there was no need to postpone the 2027 general elections at present, saying such a step could only be considered if the outbreak spread widely.
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