By Samuel Olusegun Precious
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured that the 2027 general elections could be considered for postponement if the Ebola outbreak spreads widely enough to pose a major public health threat – but there is currently no need for postponement.
The Presidential and parliamentary election is scheduled for 16 January, 2027, while the governorship and state houses of assembly come up in a fortnight.
NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, stated this on Monday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
His exact words:”We hope the election will not be postponed, but if the thing gets wide enough, that might be considered. As of now, there is no need for that.”
“We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon, and there will not be any postponement of the election in the case of Ebola… No government will use Ebola as a political weapon.”Idris explained that Nigeria had been tracking the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo for months before an imported case was detected in Nigeria on October 20. He attributed entry to population movement, international flights and ports of entry. He also announced FG has approved a N10 billion intervention fund for PPE, lab reagents, surveillance and rehabilitation of treatment centres – a fund he said was requested even before the imported case.
What This Means:
NCDC did NOT say elections will be postponed
Postponement is a last-resort contingency only if outbreak becomes widespread. As of now, 2027 polls scheduled to start January 2027 remain on track.
You will recall that Nigeria’s first imported Ebola case was medically evacuated to Switzerland early Monday morning, leaving the country with zero active cases. The 42-year-old woman, who tested positive for the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola Virus Disease on October 20, was airlifted aboard a medical aircraft from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 6:00am on Monday, October 27.
She is the wife of a Swiss diplomat based in Abuja. She had returned from Uganda on October 3 before falling ill.
Minister Confirms
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, confirmed the evacuation on X: “I confirm that, with my approval, earlier this morning, the index case for Nigeria’s first imported Ebola virus disease departed Abuja for Switzerland. The index patient was clinically much improved, stable, conscious, communicating, and her laboratory test results were closing towards baseline.”
He however warned: “This does not mean she is not still infectious, hence the strict protocols in place.”She was flown out with her husband who has remained asymptomatic and tested negative. An ambulance convoy with diplomatic vehicles entered the airport’s private jet area for the evacuation.
What Next For Nigeria?WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, says with the evacuation, Nigeria currently has no active Ebola cases. But NCDC says contact tracing continues. 53 contacts were identified – 47 health workers, 3 domestic staff, 3 family members. Nigeria will monitor 52, Switzerland will monitor the husband as the 53rd contact for 21 days.
No secondary infection has been confirmed. A suspected case in Rivers State tested negative.FG says strict surveillance at entry points continues.Nigeria had not recorded an Ebola case since 2014 until this imported case.
