RismadarVoice Reporters
October 27, 2026
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Jide Idris, has said public health emergencies must not be exploited for political purposes, dismissing suggestions that the Ebola outbreak could be used to justify postponing Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Monday during a television interview, Idris maintained that decisions concerning disease outbreaks should be based on scientific evidence, public health assessments and prevailing circumstances rather than political considerations.
“We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon,” he said.
Addressing concerns about a possible disruption to the electoral timetable, Idris explained that decisions on elections were outside the NCDC’s authority and that the current situation did not warrant postponement.
The NCDC chief said Nigerian health authorities had been monitoring the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and preparing for the possibility of imported infections.
He explained that international travel and population movements created potential pathways for the disease to spread beyond affected communities, making surveillance and preparedness essential.
According to the information provided by health authorities, Nigeria recorded its first confirmed case associated with the outbreak in Abuja on October 20, with 53 contacts identified for monitoring.
The patient was subsequently reported to have been medically evacuated to Switzerland, while surveillance and contact monitoring continued.
Idris said the government had committed resources to preparedness measures before the reported case, including monitoring developments in Congo and assessing potential risks to Nigeria.
He also urged Nigerians to maintain appropriate hygiene practices, particularly regular handwashing, as part of broader efforts to prevent infectious diseases.
Although handwashing can reduce the transmission of several infections, Ebola prevention also requires avoiding direct contact with infected bodily fluids, appropriate protective measures and prompt medical assessment of suspected cases.
The NCDC maintained that public health responses would remain guided by disease surveillance, risk assessments and established emergency procedures.
The agency’s position comes amid concerns about the potential implications of the outbreak for public gatherings and electoral activities, although no decision to postpone the 2027 elections has been announced.
