Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris
The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, has said the 2027 general election may only be postponed if the ongoing Ebola outbreak grows into a major public health emergency.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Idris said there is no reason to alter the country’s electoral timetable at the moment because the situation remains under control.
He expressed optimism that Nigerians would go to the polls as scheduled, adding that any decision to postpone the election would depend entirely on the scale of the outbreak.
“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 boss explained that health authorities had been tracking the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for several months before the virus was imported into Nigeria.
According to him, the country’s preparedness was based on the likelihood that increased international travel, cross-border movement and activities at ports of entry could eventually bring the virus into Nigeria.
Idris also dismissed concerns that the Ebola outbreak could be used to advance political interests, insisting that disease control should never become a tool for partisan politics.
He stressed that the agency’s focus remains protecting public health through surveillance, contact tracing and other measures aimed at preventing further spread of the virus.
His remarks come as political parties continue consultations and mobilization ahead of the 2027 general election, with major campaign activities expected to gather momentum in the coming months.
While assuring Nigerians that there is no immediate threat to the election timetable, Idris said authorities would continue to review the situation and take decisions based on public health realities if the Ebola outbreak worsens.
