NCDC Boss Jide Idris Says Ebola Won’t Be Used as Political Weapon, Rules Out Election Delay for Now

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Jide Idris, has rejected suggestions that Nigeria’s Ebola outbreak could be exploited for political purposes, insisting that public health concerns would not be used as a political weapon.

Idris made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he addressed concerns about the outbreak and whether it could affect the country’s 2027 general elections.

“We in the health sector will not use disease issues as a political weapon,” he said, adding that the government had committed resources to outbreak preparedness even before the possibility of an imported case became a reality.

Asked whether the outbreak could lead to an election postponement, the NCDC chief said he hoped such a measure would not be necessary. He stressed, however, that the decision was not within his authority and would depend on how the public health situation developed.

“That is not my decision, we hope not because if the thing gets wide enough. As at now there is no need for that,” Idris said, maintaining that the current situation did not warrant postponing the election.

Explaining Nigeria’s preparedness, Idris said health authorities had been monitoring the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and assessing the risk of the virus reaching Nigeria through international flights and population movement. He said resources had been committed to preparing for the possibility of an imported case.

The NCDC confirmed the first case associated with the current outbreak in Nigeria in Abuja on October 20, with 53 contacts identified for monitoring. The confirmed patient was subsequently medically evacuated to Switzerland on Monday, while health authorities continued surveillance of people who had been in contact with the patient.

Idris also urged Nigerians to practise regular handwashing, describing it as an important measure for reducing the spread of infectious diseases. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says handwashing education can reduce diarrhoeal illnesses by 23 to 40 per cent and respiratory illnesses by 16 to 21 per cent.

His comments come as health officials continue monitoring the situation and as questions emerge about the potential implications of an outbreak for public events and election planning. For now, Idris said there was no need to postpone the election, while leaving any future decision to the relevant authorities if the public health situation changed.