EDITORIAL | Akor Christian Oche
Nigeria must not allow fear, uncertainty or public-health emergencies to undermine its democracy. As concerns emerge over the reported Ebola case and the approach of the 2027 general elections, the government owes Nigerians transparency, credible information and an unequivocal commitment to protecting the electoral process.
The suggestion that an Ebola scare could be exploited to postpone the elections raises a serious question: are Nigeria’s public-health response and electoral safeguards sufficiently transparent to prevent political manipulation?
At this stage, there is no independently verified evidence establishing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu or his administration intends to fabricate an Ebola outbreak or use the disease to postpone the elections. Such a serious allegation must be investigated on the strength of credible evidence, not speculation.
Nevertheless, Nigerians have every reason to demand accountability whenever a public emergency intersects with a politically sensitive period.
The Federal Government, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Independent National Electoral Commission must communicate clearly with the public. Any health-related restriction affecting political activities or voting must be based on scientific evidence, comply with the law and remain subject to appropriate scrutiny.
The 2027 elections must not become casualties of fear, misinformation or political expediency. Equally, genuine public-health threats must not be dismissed as political inventions without evidence.
Nigeria needs two guarantees: that public health will be protected and that the constitutional rights of citizens will not be sacrificed without lawful justification.
The fundamental question is not whether an Ebola scare exists, but whether Nigeria’s institutions can protect public health without compromising democracy.
The government must provide answers, the relevant institutions must demonstrate preparedness, and journalists must investigate any credible evidence of wrongdoing without turning unverified allegations into established facts.
Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its people. No emergency should become a convenient excuse to deny them their right to choose their leaders.
