Civil society leaders have referred to as on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to concern clear well being tips for political campaigns amid the Ebola outbreak, urging the fee to guard public well being with out undermining democratic participation forward of the 2027 normal elections.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the National Chairman of the Civil Society Budget Implementation Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CBIAMEC), Comrade Patrick Ogheneyero Onomodeke, and the Executive Director of the Women’s Inclusion, Empowerment and Leadership Development Initiative (WIELD-Initiative), Okeke Amarachi Evangel, made the decision in separate statements.
They urged INEC to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and different related well being authorities to develop evidence-based tips for managing giant political gatherings as marketing campaign actions intensify.
CISLAC has expressed critical concern over the absence of publicly communicated well being safeguards for political campaigns as Nigeria confronts the specter of Ebola forward of the 2027 normal elections.
The organisation insisted that, following the reported affirmation of an imported Ebola case in Abuja on October 20, 2026, INEC should urgently combine public well being safety into its electoral preparations.
The Executive Director of CISLAC and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, informed Leadership in a chat that political ambition mustn’t ever take priority over human lives.
According to him, electoral credibility means little if residents are uncovered to preventable well being dangers whereas exercising their democratic rights.
Rafsanjani recalled that in May 2020, forward of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, INEC proactively issued tips for conducting elections through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“That expertise demonstrates that the Commission possesses the institutional capability to anticipate public well being threats. We due to this fact query why comparable preventive preparations haven’t been publicly communicated as political rallies and marketing campaign actions intensify.
“INEC must not wait for an outbreak to escalate before recognising its responsibility to protect voters, electoral officials and campaign participants,” Rafsanjani mentioned.
He expressed specific concern over the N10 billion emergency intervention funding reportedly accredited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 9, 2026, for Ebola preparedness, alongside the institution of a Presidential Task Force chaired by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
“CISLAC calls for full public disclosure of the fund’s launch standing, administration, expenditure, procurement processes and measurable outcomes. The Presidency and the Task Force should clarify how these assets are strengthening illness surveillance, public consciousness, emergency response and neighborhood safety.
“Approving billions of naira is just not an achievement in itself; the true measure of success is how successfully the cash protects Nigerian lives. Public well being funds should ship public well being outcomes, not disappear into administrative secrecy.
“CISLAC significantly expects the Presidential Task Force, INEC, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Ministry of Health and state well being authorities to determine a coordinated electoral well being preparedness framework.
“This collaboration ought to be certain that obtainable assets, inside their accredited functions, help nationwide public enlightenment, evidence-based an infection prevention, emergency referral techniques and enough well being preparedness at main political gatherings.
“With N10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness, Nigerians deserve to know what has been achieved, what remains outstanding and how electoral activities are being incorporated into national prevention efforts. There must be no duplication, diversion or waste of public resources,” he mentioned.
Rafsanjani warned that Ebola should not change into an excuse for selective restrictions on opposition campaigns, political intimidation or the suppression of constitutional freedoms.
He mentioned public well being measures have to be scientifically justified, proportionate, clear and utilized equally.
“Ebola is transmitted primarily via direct contact with the bodily fluids of contaminated, symptomatic individuals. Therefore, preventive tips should replicate the precise dangers slightly than encourage panic or indiscriminate restrictions on political gatherings. Public well being should shield democracy, not change into a weapon in opposition to it.
“CISLAC calls on INEC to urgently publish electoral well being tips and calls for that the Presidential Task Force present a clear public account of the N10 billion intervention, together with a transparent framework for collaboration with electoral authorities.
“The National Assembly should equally train oversight to make sure accountability and worth for cash. Nigerians can’t be anticipated to have a good time billion-naira emergency allocations whereas remaining unsure concerning the safety these funds are supposed to offer.
“Our position is unequivocal: public funds must protect public lives, political campaigns must not become preventable health hazards, and no electoral ambition is worth a Nigerian life. Safe elections are essential to credible elections,” Rafsanjani added.
Onomodeke mentioned the fee ought to introduce applicable precautionary measures to guard public well being whereas making certain that the rules have been utilized pretty throughout all political events.
He cited the well being measures launched through the 2020 Edo and Ondo governorship elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic as a precedent for addressing public well being considerations throughout electioneering.
“Given the precedent set during the 2020 Edo and Ondo elections amid COVID-19, it is reasonable to expect INEC to engage relevant health authorities and provide clear guidance on managing large political gatherings in the context of the Ebola outbreak,” he mentioned.
He warned in opposition to politicising public well being considerations forward of the 2027 normal elections, stressing that any measures adopted have to be based mostly on scientific proof {and professional} well being recommendation.
According to him, political events ought to retain their democratic freedom to marketing campaign and have interaction voters however should conduct their actions responsibly, with applicable safeguards the place essential.
He recognized public well being consciousness, entry to hygiene amenities and clear security protocols advisable by well being authorities as sensible measures for decreasing potential well being dangers at political gatherings.
“As Chairman of CBIAMEC, I believe the priority should be to protect lives without undermining democratic participation,” Onomodeke mentioned.
He urged INEC and related authorities companies to exhibit preparedness, transparency and equity in addressing public well being considerations slightly than permitting the difficulty to change into a supply of political controversy.
Similarly, Evangel mentioned INEC ought to have issued clear well being tips in session with the NCDC and different related authorities as marketing campaign actions entered a brand new section.
She argued that the expertise of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections through the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that public well being safeguards could possibly be carried out alongside credible electoral processes.
“We believe INEC should have issued clear guidelines, developed with the NCDC and health authorities, as campaigns entered a new phase amid the Ebola outbreak,” she mentioned.
Evangel mentioned public well being concerns ought to be addressed proactively and responsibly, including that preventive measures have to be clear, proportionate and supported by scientific proof.
She careworn that such measures ought to shield public security with out unnecessarily proscribing political participation or creating perceptions of political interference within the electoral course of.
According to her, INEC should be certain that choices on marketing campaign well being protocols are clear, clearly communicated and topic to accountability.
“Such guidelines should be driven by public health evidence, not politics, so that public health and the right to participate in democratic processes are responsibly balanced,” she mentioned.
Evangel added that public confidence within the electoral course of trusted establishments appearing transparently, constantly and within the public curiosity.
The civil society leaders referred to as for stronger collaboration amongst INEC, public well being authorities and political events to make sure that applicable safeguards have been thought of as marketing campaign actions intensified forward of the 2027 normal elections.
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