File: Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his comments on the Ebola health emergency, accusing him of politicising a public health issue and disrespecting President Bola Tinubu.
The council, in a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, said Atiku’s remarks about the government’s handling of the Ebola situation were inappropriate at a time when Nigerians needed to support health authorities.
The statement took issue with a headline attributed to Atiku that linked President Tinubu’s first name to Ebola while questioning the expenditure of the N10 billion approved for the emergency.
“We believe linking and rhyming President Bola Tinubu’s name to Ebola only risks turning a serious health concern into a vehicle to ridicule the President of the Federal Republic,” the council said.
It also faulted Atiku’s comments on the detection of an infected Nigerian who had travelled from Uganda, arguing that the circumstances surrounding Ebola transmission required a better understanding of the disease.
According to the council, Ebola has an incubation period of between two and 21 days, with symptoms typically appearing eight to 10 days after exposure.
“An infected person cannot spread or transmit Ebola to others until they actively develop symptoms,” the statement said.
The council explained that the infected Nigerian reported to a hospital days after the initial exposure, where tests subsequently confirmed the infection.
On the N10 billion emergency allocation, the APC campaign council said the funds approved by President Tinubu in June remained untouched, adding that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other surveillance agencies had relied on other available resources.
“On accountability, the Atiku camp should note that the N10 billion the President approved for the Ebola emergency in June remains untouched, while the NCDC, FAAN, and other surveillance agencies have spent other available resources,” it said.
The council also commended the agencies for their surveillance efforts at the country’s entry points, saying the measures helped alert the government to the index case and facilitated contact tracing involving 44 people who had contact with the patient.
It argued that the response of the health authorities deserved recognition rather than political criticism.
“A responsible opposition will applaud the Task Force for being responsive. But the Atiku camp always goes for cheap shots at the government,” the statement added.
The APC council further rejected an allegation attributed to Atiku that a ministerial briefing was intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies or voting.
It described the allegation as speculative and challenged the former vice president to provide verifiable evidence to support it.
“Vice President Atiku cannot make such a serious allegation without verifiable evidence, especially in the thick of electioneering,” the statement said.
According to the council, the briefing did not raise the issue of campaign rallies or voting but appealed to Nigerians to comply with protocols announced by the relevant task force.
The council urged Atiku and other opposition figures to avoid politicising public health concerns, stressing that cooperation among political leaders, health professionals and the public was necessary to prevent a wider outbreak.
“We advise Atiku Abubakar and his hirelings to avoid politicising public health issues,” it said.
“A time like this demands that all Nigerians, including the opposition, rally around the health authorities and professionals, communicate responsibly, avoid rumour-mongering, and follow the protocols advised by the Task Force to ensure Ebola does not become a national epidemic.”
The statement concluded that protecting Nigerians from the disease should take precedence over political disagreements.
“Nigerians deserve, first of all, protection from the deadly disease,” the council said.
The statement was issued in Abuja on October 22, 2026, and signed by Alake on behalf of the APC Presidential Campaign Council.