The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the 2027 general election may only be postponed if the Ebola outbreak expands to a level that threatens public safety.
NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, made the statement while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday.
He explained that there is currently no justification for delaying the election because the outbreak remains under control.
According to Idris, any discussion about postponing the polls would depend on how the disease develops in the coming months.
“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.
The NCDC chief noted that Nigeria had been preparing for the possibility of an Ebola case after monitoring the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for several months.
He said the movement of people across borders, international flights and activities at the nation’s entry points made the risk of importation unavoidable.
Idris also rejected claims that the Ebola outbreak could be manipulated for political purposes.
He maintained that the government’s priority is protecting lives and containing the disease, not politics.
With campaigns and political activities expected to gather pace ahead of the 2027 elections, the NCDC boss urged Nigerians not to panic over speculation.
He assured citizens that health authorities would continue to monitor the situation closely and take decisions based on scientific evidence and the interest of public safety.
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