Ebola Could Force Postponement of 2027 Elections — NCDC DG Jide Idris

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the 2027 general election could be considered for postponement if the Ebola outbreak in the country spreads significantly.

NCDC Director-General, Jide Idris, made this known during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics on Monday, where he addressed concerns about the potential impact of the outbreak on the country’s electoral timetable.

Idris, however, expressed hope that the election would proceed as scheduled, stressing that there was currently no need to consider postponement.

“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.

He explained that health authorities had been monitoring the Ebola situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for months and had anticipated the possibility of the virus reaching Nigeria due to population movement, international flights and activities at the country’s ports of entry.

The NCDC chief also rejected suggestions that the government could exploit the outbreak for political purposes, insisting that public health concerns should not be used as political weapons.

His remarks come as preparations and political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election, which is expected to begin in January.

For now, Idris maintained that postponement is not necessary, although the possibility could be reviewed if the outbreak escalates significantly.