You Can’t Use Ebola To Suppress Voters In 2027 – Atiku Warns Tinubu

Former vice-president and presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to account for the N10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness.

This was as he also warned the Federal Government against using the outbreak to restrict political activities or discourage Nigerians from voting in the 2027 general elections.

Atiku said the confirmed Ebola case in Abuja had raised serious questions about the government’s preparedness, the monitoring of exposed persons and the protection of health workers.

In a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku demanded a full account of the funds Tinubu reportedly approved for the emergency response in June.

He called on the government to publish the amount disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded, recipients and items delivered under the funding arrangement.

“Where is the money? Publish the amount actually disbursed, the dates of payment, every contract awarded, every recipient and every item delivered,” Atiku said.

He added that if the funds had not been released, the president should explain why emergency funding was announced without reaching those responsible for protecting Nigerians.

According to Atiku, the timeline of the Abuja case raised concerns about possible gaps in the country’s Ebola response.

He said the patient arrived in Nigeria on October 5, developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private hospital on October 11. However, the government did not publicly confirm the case until October 20, nine days after the patient sought medical attention.

Atiku further claimed that 44 close contacts remained unmonitored during the period and that private health workers handling the case lacked adequate protective equipment.

He demanded explanations from the government on the screening conducted when the patient arrived, the follow-up initiated after symptoms developed and when health authorities first contacted and began monitoring the 44 individuals.

The former vice-president also called for accountability over the alleged failure to provide frontline health workers with the necessary protective equipment.

He questioned the effectiveness of the Presidential Task Force announced by Tinubu in June and chaired by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila.

Atiku argued that medical experts, including the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), epidemiologists, doctors and other public health professionals, should lead the response, with the authority and resources required to contain the outbreak.

“Political titles cannot trace contacts, equip hospitals or save lives,” he said.

Atiku also linked the Ebola response to the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, warning that restrictions arising from the outbreak could further affect movement, livelihoods and economic activities.

He said Nigerians should not bear the consequences of economic hardship and what he described as a poorly managed public health emergency.

The ADC presidential campaign council official also raised concerns about a planned press conference by the Minister of Health, alleging that it was intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies and ultimately voting.

Atiku questioned the minister’s role in the Ebola prevention programme and cited what he described as a N35 million disbursement under the ministry’s 2025 appropriation.

He warned the Tinubu administration against using the public health emergency to intimidate political opponents or limit citizens’ democratic rights.

“The Tinubu administration must not weaponise Ebola to frighten the public, silence its opponents or suppress voter participation,” he said.

Atiku maintained that any public health restrictions must be supported by clear medical evidence and applied equally, rather than used to interfere with political activities.

He urged the Federal Government to account for the N10 billion, protect health workers, trace all contacts and provide Nigerians with accurate information about the outbreak.

“You cannot fail to protect the people, conceal what happened to emergency funds, then use the crisis to restrict their freedom,” Atiku said, adding that the government must fight Ebola without interfering with Nigerians’ right to assemble and choose their leaders.