Ebola: Adewole Adebayo opposes shifting 2027 elections over outbreak
Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has warned against postponing the 2027 general election over the Ebola outbreak, arguing that a single confirmed case does not constitute an epidemic.
Adebayo spoke on Sunday at a dinner organised by the SDP presidential campaign council in Abuja, insisting that Nigeria could protect public health without disrupting the electoral process.
His comments came after Jide Idris, director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), disclosed that the agency was investigating a suspected case of Ebola virus disease in Rivers State.
The suspected case followed the confirmation of an earlier infection involving a 42-year-old woman in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Idris said the Rivers case had yet to be confirmed, adding that the NCDC had identified 53 primary contacts and was monitoring people who might have been exposed to the confirmed case.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not announced any change to the 2027 election timetable over the outbreak, Adebayo said campaigns, rallies and voting should proceed.
“Ebola is not the biggest public health crisis we have in Nigeria,” he said.
He accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government of handling the situation without sufficient transparency.
“It is just that whatever the APC government discusses or presides over, there’s always deception, obfuscation, and opportunism involved,” he said.
“One single incident of Ebola is not enough to talk about an epidemic. Secondly, we have dealt with Ebola in Nigeria before during the time of Goodluck Jonathan, with Dr (Onyebuchi) Chukwu as Minister of Health.
“Everybody in Nigeria had a transparent understanding of Ebola. The person who brought it to Nigeria, Patrick Sawyer, from Liberia, the lead consultant physician who treated him then was Dr (Stella) Adadevoh. Everything about it was transparent. But this particular one is shrouded in mystery.”
Adebayo insisted that the outbreak should not disrupt political activities or the forthcoming election.
“So, we cannot cancel campaigns, rallies, or shift an important election like the upcoming 2027 poll. The greatest gift anyone can give to support the health of Nigerians is to go to the poll to vote and kick out the APC,” he said.
The SDP candidate’s position follows remarks by Muhammad Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, who said there was no immediate need to cancel political campaigns, conferences or other large gatherings following the confirmed Ebola case.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja last Thursday, Pate said any decision to introduce restrictions would be guided by scientific evidence and consultations with public health experts.
Adebayo urged Nigerians to observe precautionary measures and report suspected symptoms to health authorities. He also assured that his campaign would comply with relevant health guidelines while continuing its nationwide mobilisation.
The SDP candidate further said the party had published its policy proposals in several Nigerian languages to enable voters to understand its manifesto before the election.
“The primary duty of the government is security and welfare. If you have studied our manifesto, you will realise it was published in all the major languages namely English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba,” he said.
He added that the party had translated and simplified its proposals into additional languages to encourage public engagement.
“As we have gone beyond that to further break it down in other languages, which are now in circulation. When we campaign, we want Nigerians to ask questions and cross-examine us on the areas they are clear about in our policy document,” Adebayo said.
