Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo has warned against suspending political campaigns or postponing the 2027 general elections over Nigeria’s ongoing Ebola response, arguing that public health concerns should not disrupt the country’s democratic process.
Adebayo spoke on Sunday at a dinner organised by the leadership of his Presidential Campaign Council in Abuja, where he also announced that his manifesto had been translated into several Nigerian languages ahead of the elections.
The SDP candidate argued that a single confirmed Ebola case was not sufficient to declare an epidemic, insisting that Nigeria could protect public health while allowing political activities to continue under appropriate safety guidelines.
He said Nigeria had successfully contained an Ebola outbreak in 2014 under former President Goodluck Jonathan, noting that the response at the time involved transparency and clear communication with the public.
“Ebola is not the biggest public health crisis we have in Nigeria. It is just that whatever the APC government discusses or presides over, there’s always deception, obfuscation, and opportunism involved,” Adebayo said.
He added, “One single incident of Ebola is not enough to talk about an epidemic. Secondly, we have dealt with Ebola in Nigeria before during the time of Goodluck Jonathan, with Dr (Onyebuchi) Chukwu as Minister of Health.”
The presidential hopeful also referenced the 2014 case involving Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American who brought Ebola into Nigeria, and the late consultant physician, Dr Ameyo Adadevoh, who played a crucial role in identifying and containing the infection.
Adebayo argued that the circumstances surrounding the current case required greater transparency, while rejecting any proposal to cancel campaign activities or shift the 2027 elections.
“So, we cannot cancel campaigns, rallies, or shift an important election like the upcoming 2027 poll,” he said, urging Nigerians to participate in the electoral process.
He also called on his campaign organisation to observe relevant public health guidelines while continuing its nationwide mobilisation. He urged Nigerians to take precautionary measures and report suspected symptoms to health authorities.
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The position comes after the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, said there was no immediate need to cancel political campaigns, conferences or other large gatherings because of the Ebola case.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja last Thursday, Pate said any decision to introduce restrictions would be based on scientific evidence and consultations with public health experts, depending on how the situation developed.
Beyond the Ebola concerns, Adebayo said the SDP was preparing to make its policy proposals accessible to Nigerians by translating its manifesto into languages spoken across the country.
He said the document, which addresses security and citizens’ welfare, had been published in English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, with further translations into other Nigerian languages also being circulated.
“The primary duty of government is security and welfare. If you have studied our manifesto, you will realise it was published in all the major languages, namely English, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. We have gone beyond that to further break it down in other languages, which are now in circulation,” he said.
Adebayo urged voters to study the manifesto and question the party about its proposals during the campaign period.
SDP National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Gombe, praised the presidential candidate for presenting his policy document ahead of the formal campaign season and making it available in multiple Nigerian languages.
Gombe said the party wanted Nigerians to engage with the manifesto, scrutinise its proposals and contribute ideas before the election.
He also presented Adebayo and his running mate, Dr Usman Bugaje, as the party’s candidates for the 2027 presidential contest.
The debate over Ebola precautions and political activities comes as health authorities continue contact tracing and other containment measures following Nigeria’s confirmation of an imported case of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola virus disease.