Political parties have opposed calls to suspend campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections over the reported Ebola case in Nigeria, insisting that campaigns can continue under strict health and safety measures.
OrijoReporter picked the report from PUNCH, which reported that the parties urged the Federal Government to provide clear public health guidelines and strengthen preventive measures rather than impose a blanket ban on political gatherings.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, had earlier said there was no immediate need to cancel political campaigns, conferences or other large gatherings following the reported Ebola case.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) urged Nigerians to remain calm, warning political actors against turning the public health situation into a political controversy.
The party’s National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies had issued advisories to guide the public.
He maintained that infectious diseases requiring quarantine and detailed investigation should be handled by health experts rather than subjected to political arguments.
Ibrahim warned that politicising the outbreak could trigger unnecessary panic, fear and confusion among Nigerians.
However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) raised concerns that the Federal Government might exploit the Ebola situation to restrict opposition parties from campaigning.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said protecting public health was important but insisted that any restriction on political activities must be supported by clear and transparent health reasons.
Abdullahi also expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu’s reported position that he would be unable to campaign could be followed by restrictions preventing other political parties from reaching voters.
He said the government would need to explain the public health basis for any proposed restriction before opposition parties could properly assess and question the decision.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) also opposed a blanket suspension of campaigns, urging the government to strengthen disease surveillance and preventive measures instead.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Rufus Araba, argued that political candidates needed opportunities to engage voters and explain their manifestos ahead of the elections.
He, however, stressed that political activities must be conducted in ways that protect public health and minimise the risk of infection.
Similarly, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) called on political parties to adopt safer campaign strategies instead of abruptly suspending political activities.
The party’s Lagos State Publicity Secretary, Olushile Akinyemi, warned that restrictions imposed without clear justification could deepen public suspicion, particularly amid existing distrust of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the electoral process.
Akinyemi urged parties to consider campaign methods that reduce physical contact and the risk of transmission while allowing candidates to maintain contact with the electorate.
He maintained that campaigns should continue under strict safety protocols rather than be halted without sufficient justification.
The disagreement comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections, with the reported Ebola case raising questions about how to balance public health precautions with political campaigning.
While the APC has urged Nigerians to avoid politicising the outbreak, the ADC, SDP and NDC have emphasised the need for transparent guidelines and preventive measures that would not unnecessarily restrict political engagement.
