Nigeria Agency Says Ebola Can Force Shift of 2027 Elections, As WHO Warns Country Not Declared Free Of The Disease
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the 2027 general election could be considered for postponement if the Ebola outbreak in the country spreads significantly.
NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics on Monday, where he addressed concerns about the potential impact of the outbreak on the country’s electoral timetable.
Idris, however, expressed hope that the election would proceed as scheduled, stressing that there was currently no need to consider postponement.
“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,” he said.
He explained that health authorities had been monitoring the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for months and had anticipated the possibility of the virus reaching Nigeria due to population movement, international flights and activities at the country’s ports of entry.
The NCDC chief also rejected suggestions that the government could exploit the outbreak for political purposes, insisting that public health concerns should not be used as political weapons.
His remarks come as preparations and political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election, which is expected to begin in January.
For now, Idris maintained that postponement is not necessary, although the possibility could be reviewed if the outbreak escalates significantly.
WHO SAYS NO EBOLA-FREE DECLARATION ON NIGERIA
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has clarified that Nigeria was not declared Ebola-free, despite having no active confirmed case in the country following the medical evacuation of its index patient.
The patient was flown to Switzerland by air ambulance on Monday, October 26, for further medical treatment.
Her husband was also evacuated.
Following the evacuation, WHO Regional Director for Africa Mohamed Janabi said Nigeria currently had no Ebola cases.
Some platforms interpreted the statement to mean that the country had been declared Ebola-free.
However, in a post on X on Monday, October 26, the WHO said that interpretation was inaccurate and misleading.
“WHO has not declared Nigeria Ebola-free. Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola following the medical evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland,” the organisation stated.
The WHO said the absence of an active confirmed case did not amount to an official declaration that the outbreak had ended. It added that health officials were monitoring 52 contacts who may have been exposed to the virus.
According to the organisation, a country can be declared Ebola-free after a 42-day period following the last confirmed patient testing negative twice for the virus.
The WHO said the countdown also applies in Nigeria’s current situation following the evacuation.
The 42-day period is followed by heightened surveillance to detect any possible new infections.
The WHO called on the media organisation responsible for the Ebola-free headline to retract and correct it, describing the headline as an inaccurate interpretation of the regional director’s earlier post.
