Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the 2027 general election and human rights activist, has questioned the Tinubu administration’s handling of Nigeria’s reported Ebola case, demanding greater transparency, stronger disease surveillance and assurances that the outbreak will not be exploited for political purposes.
In a statement published on his X handle, Sowore urged Nigerians not to panic but to demand answers from the government over its preparedness, international coordination and the reported leadership of the country’s Ebola response.
‘Nigerians must not panic, but neither should they surrender their right to question those in power,’ he declared.
Sowore alleged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could exploit a public health emergency to restrict democratic participation ahead of the 2027 elections, although he provided no evidence in the statement that the government was planning such measures.
‘I firmly believe he knows he cannot win a genuinely free and fair electoral contest,’ Sowore wrote, referring to Tinubu.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against any attempt to manipulate the electoral process, insisting that public health emergencies must never become a pretext for suppressing fundamental freedoms or limiting citizens’ democratic rights.
The AAC presidential candidate also raised questions about reports concerning the infected woman’s travel history and Uganda’s response. He cited accounts that the woman had transited through Uganda after visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Ugandan authorities reportedly maintained that they had no confirmed active Ebola cases.
If these accounts are accurate, why has Nigeria not promptly provided the necessary information?’ Sowore asked, questioning the effectiveness of Nigeria’s disease surveillance systems, emergency preparedness and international public health coordination.
He further challenged the reported appointment of Femi Gbajabiamila, a politician who is not a medical doctor, to chair Nigeria’s Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness.
‘Why should the political leadership of such a critical public health response take precedence over the expertise of qualified epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists, and public health professionals?’ he queried.
Sowore called for full disclosure of the facts, effective contact tracing, appropriate medical intervention, protection for frontline health workers and independent scientific oversight of the response.
He argued that the government must prioritise medical expertise and accountability over political bureaucracy and secrecy.
‘Ebola is a serious disease that requires a coordinated, transparent, science-driven response. It must never be politicized, weaponized, or exploited to undermine civil liberties and democratic participation,’ he said.
The AAC presidential candidate concluded that the government’s handling of the situation must be guided by public safety rather than political interests.
‘Public health must protect lives, not become an instrument of political control,’ Sowore declared.
His comments inject a political dimension into the debate over Nigeria’s reported Ebola case, with the opposition figure calling on authorities to provide credible information and demonstrate that the response is guided by science, transparency and the protection of citizens’ rights.