Sowore Warns Tinubu Could Use Ebola Outbreak to Affect 2027 Voter Turnout

Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, has expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu’s administration could use Nigeria’s reported Ebola case to restrict political activities and reduce voter turnout ahead of the polls.

Sowore, a human rights activist, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and guard against any attempt to use the public health situation to limit civil liberties or discourage democratic participation.

In a statement released on Wednesday titled “The Ebola Disease: Why Nigerians Must Not Panic But Must Ask Political Questions,” Sowore questioned the government’s response to the reported infection and called for greater transparency in its preparedness measures.

He also raised concerns about disease surveillance, international health coordination and the reported appointment of Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, to head the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness.

According to Sowore, the announcement that a woman who arrived in Nigeria had tested positive for Ebola had generated questions among Nigerians about the government’s intentions.

He said some citizens were concerned that the administration might use the outbreak as a pretext to limit political participation ahead of the 2027 elections.

“These are questions Nigerians have every right to ask. I cannot put anything beyond Tinubu and his political agenda,” Sowore said.

The AAC candidate also alleged that Tinubu could not win a genuinely free and fair election, urging citizens to remain alert to any potential attempt to interfere with the electoral process under the guise of managing the health emergency.

He warned that measures introduced to contain the disease should not become grounds for unjustified restrictions on fundamental rights or prevent Nigerians from taking part in democratic activities.

Sowore further questioned the level of communication between Nigerian and Ugandan authorities concerning the travel and medical history of the woman diagnosed with the virus.

Nigeria Confirms Bundibugyo Virus Disease Case

The Federal Government confirmed Nigeria’s first case of Bundibugyo virus disease in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on October 20, 2026.

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, announced on Tuesday that laboratory tests had confirmed the infection in a woman who travelled to Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.

Following the confirmation, health authorities identified 44 close contacts and began contact tracing to establish the extent of possible exposure and prevent further transmission.

The patient had reportedly spent several days receiving treatment at a private hospital in the FCT before laboratory results confirmed the infection. She was subsequently isolated and continued to receive medical care.

Those identified as contacts included healthcare workers, patients, caregivers and other individuals linked to the woman’s travel, according to information released by Nigerian health authorities.

Government Begins Containment Measures

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said it was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the FCT Health Services Secretariat and other relevant agencies to contain the infection.

The authorities are expected to continue monitoring exposed individuals, tracing potential contacts and implementing public health measures to reduce the risk of further spread.

While the government works to manage the reported case, Sowore’s comments have brought political concerns surrounding the outbreak into focus, particularly the need to balance public health measures with the protection of civil liberties and democratic participation.

His allegations about the possible political use of the outbreak remain claims made by the AAC candidate and should not be treated as established government policy.