The African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, has raised concerns that President Bola Tinubu’s administration could exploit Nigeria’s reported Ebola case to discourage voter participation ahead of the polls.

Sowore, a human rights activist, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant against any attempt to use the public health emergency as a pretext for restricting civil liberties or undermining democratic participation.

He expressed his concerns in a statement issued on Wednesday titled, “The Ebola Disease: Why Nigerians Must Not Panic But Must Ask Political Questions.”

The AAC candidate questioned the government’s handling of the reported infection, raising issues surrounding disease surveillance, international public health coordination and the reported appointment of the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to head the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Preparedness.

Sowore said the announcement that a woman who arrived in Nigeria had tested positive for Ebola had generated concerns among citizens, including fears about the possible political implications of the outbreak.

According to him, Nigerians are entitled to question the government’s intentions and demand transparency in its management of the situation.

He said some citizens had expressed apprehension that the administration might use the outbreak to limit political mobilisation and reduce voter 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.

He further alleged that Tinubu could not win a genuinely free and fair election, urging citizens to resist any attempt to use the health emergency to interfere with the electoral process.

Sowore warned that measures introduced to contain the virus must not become instruments for curtailing fundamental rights or preventing Nigerians from exercising their democratic choices.

He also questioned the communication between Nigerian and Ugandan authorities regarding the travel and medical history of the woman diagnosed with the disease.

Meanwhile, 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 arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.

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

The woman had reportedly received treatment at a private hospital in the FCT for several days 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 individuals linked to the woman’s journey.

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

Although health authorities have initiated containment measures, Sowore’s comments have introduced a political dimension to the outbreak, with the AAC candidate calling for transparency and vigilance as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has said growing dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration in Northern Nigeria stems largely from its failure to deliver on promises made before assuming office.

Baba-Ahmed made the remarks during an interview with Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye, as political parties and stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections.

According to him, the discontent in the North is not primarily a consequence of the president’s alleged failure to accommodate northern political elites, but reflects wider frustration among Nigerians over the administration’s performance.

He argued that Tinubu had promised to address several of the country’s challenges but had yet to meet the expectations raised by those commitments.

“There are a lot of Nigerians who are angry with Tinubu because he’s not listening to anybody. And I can tell you the North is not angry with Tinubu because he’s not listening to them. The North is angry with Tinubu, like other Nigerians are angry with Tinubu, because he came here on the promise to fix a lot of the things that are wrong, and he didn’t,” Baba-Ahmed said.

The PRP leader also expressed doubts about the administration’s assurances that economic prosperity was imminent, questioning how long Nigerians would have to wait before experiencing tangible improvements in their living conditions.

During the interview, Okinbaloye noted that the president had said several initiatives were in the pipeline.

Baba-Ahmed, however, challenged the argument, asking, “Do you want to be in the pipeline? For goodness’ sake, what’s in the pipeline?”

When asked whether he believed Tinubu’s assertion that prosperity had arrived, the former presidential aide responded, “I don’t believe him at all.”

His comments come amid growing political debate over the ruling All Progressives Congress’ (APC) prospects in Northern Nigeria ahead of the 2027 elections.

Two days earlier, Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni had also warned the APC against assuming that it enjoyed widespread support across the region.

Oseni, speaking on the station’s Morning Show programme on Monday, cautioned that enthusiastic receptions at political gatherings and the distribution of money to supporters should not be mistaken for genuine electoral backing.

He maintained that public displays of support for politicians do not necessarily translate into votes on election day, warning that the ruling party could be in for a surprise if it misreads the mood of northern voters.

“Do not deceive yourself, you see, politicians are the most delusional and the most optimistic people on earth,” Oseni said.

He added that the distribution of money and enthusiastic chants at political events were insufficient evidence that voters were satisfied with the administration.

“The north is not happy with this administration,” he said.

The House of Representatives has called for tougher measures to combat the production and sale of fake food, adulterated beverages and substandard consumer goods, while commencing a review of a proposed law to regulate the nutrition profession in Nigeria.

The lawmakers made the call during plenary on Tuesday, when they adopted a motion on food safety before proceeding to a public hearing on the bill seeking to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.

The House urged the Presidency to strengthen efforts to tackle illegal manufacturing facilities and counterfeit product networks, warning that the circulation of unsafe food and drinks poses a significant threat to public health.

The motion was sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, who represents Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.

It advocated stricter enforcement of existing regulations and improved collaboration among agencies responsible for food safety and consumer protection.

Yalleman stressed that access to safe and quality food was fundamental to public health, productivity and national development.

He noted that proper processing, hygienic practices and compliance with established standards could help prevent illnesses arising from harmful bacteria, chemical residues and contaminated ingredients.

He also raised concerns over the activities of illegal factories and counterfeiters, citing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s (NAFDAC) operation against alcohol-counterfeiting syndicates at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island on April 22, 2026.

The lawmaker further referenced a September 22 operation by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), which uncovered an illegal and unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos State.

He warned that the consumption of adulterated food and beverages could expose Nigerians to severe health complications, including poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs and heart.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Chike Okafor, said the public hearing on the proposed nutrition bill was intended to provide an opportunity for citizens, professionals and other stakeholders to contribute to the legislative process.

Okafor assured participants that the committee had not reached a predetermined position on the bill and would carefully consider arguments both in support of and against the proposed legislation before making its recommendations.

In a related development, NAFDAC has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians from unsafe medicines supplied under the United States-Nigeria Government (USG-GoN) agreement.

The agency said it would deploy a technology-driven tracking system to monitor the distribution of medical products supplied under the arrangement, which covers medicines for HIV/AIDS intended to address gaps following the exit of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, NAFDAC maintained that it would continue to exercise its statutory authority over the regulation of medicines, vaccines and diagnostic products despite existing arrangements for regulatory reliance on other countries.

The agency explained that the memorandum of understanding governing the agreement refers to an existing regulatory-reliance arrangement between NAFDAC and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under the framework, medicines manufactured in the United States and approved by the FDA may qualify for expedited approval in Nigeria, based on the rigour of the American regulatory process.

However, NAFDAC clarified that products supplied under the agreement but manufactured outside the United States would undergo testing by the Nigerian agency to establish their quality, safety and efficacy.

It added that regulatory reliance was designed to minimise unnecessary duplication and facilitate faster access to quality-assured medicines without undermining NAFDAC’s independent regulatory authority.

The agency said its responsibilities would continue to include evaluating applications, inspecting products and manufacturing facilities, conducting risk-based testing, releasing vaccine lots and carrying out post-market surveillance where necessary.

Eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have dismissed reports that they have returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that their recent visit to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa was to seek a resolution of their grievances.

The lawmakers said their meeting with the President centred on the circumstances surrounding their suspension and outstanding entitlements, stressing that they had neither defected to the APC nor pledged to rejoin the party.

Their position was made public by their spokesman, Hon. Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, who represents Bakura Constituency in the state assembly.

Speaking exclusively to DAILY GAZETTE, Bakura described reports suggesting that the lawmakers had returned to the ruling party as false and misleading.

“We have not returned to APC. We only discussed our problems with the President,” he said.

He explained that the delegation visited the Villa to discuss the reasons for their suspension, their pending entitlements and possible ways of resolving the issues.

“Neither have we decamped to the APC nor promised to return to the APC. What took us to the Villa was to discuss the problem of why we were suspended, our pending entitlements and how to resolve it,” Bakura added.

The lawmaker further stated that any decision to formally rejoin the APC would be publicly announced, promising to personally inform major media organisations if such a decision was reached.

“If we decide to return to the APC officially, I will personally call Leadership and other important media houses and brief them,” he said.

The clarification follows the lawmakers’ meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday.

The delegation was reportedly led by the Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara State Governor, Dr Bello Matawalle.

However, a statement by Matawalle’s media aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, had indicated that the lawmakers reaffirmed their loyalty to the APC and expressed support for Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The eight lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara, representing Talata Mafara South; Ibrahim Tukur Bakura, Bakura; Faruk Musa Dosara, Maradun I; Bashir Abubakar Masama, Bukkuyum North; Muktaru Nasiru Kaura, Kaura North; Nasiru Abdullahi, Maru North; Bashar Bello, Bungudu West; and Bashar Aliyu, Gummi I.

They were suspended on February 26, 2024, over allegations of gross misconduct, conspiracy, contempt of the House and holding an unauthorised sitting in violation of the assembly’s Standing Orders. Their suspension was extended on May 13, 2026.

The Speaker of the House, Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, had maintained that the disciplinary action preceded the lawmakers’ political decisions and arose from internal legislative matters.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, has expressed confidence that Northern Nigeria will deliver substantial votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, describing the region’s political commitment to the President as sacrosanct and non-negotiable.

Kwankwaso said the North would reciprocate the Federal Government’s development efforts in the region by supporting Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office.

He made the declaration during the inauguration of Arewa4Asiwaju in Abuja, which brought together Northern political leaders and stakeholders to mobilise support for the President ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The APC chieftain argued that the Tinubu administration had demonstrated a commitment to addressing the region’s infrastructure challenges through major projects designed to enhance transportation, stimulate commerce and expand economic opportunities.

Among the projects he highlighted were the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, railway developments, the proposed Abuja-Kano Super Highway and the Wujuwuju Road project in Kano.

According to him, these interventions would improve connectivity, facilitate trade and create opportunities for economic growth across Northern Nigeria.

“Tinubu has done his best for the North, and we shall replicate the gesture through massive voting in 2027. The covenant of the North with our beloved President is sacrosanct and, in effect, non-negotiable,” he said.

Kwankwaso maintained that the region had a longstanding tradition of honouring political commitments, expressing optimism that Northern voters would demonstrate their loyalty to Tinubu at the polls.

“The North is known for fulfilling its covenant, and we shall live up to expectations again. The President should be rest assured that 2027 is his year, and the North will roar again,” he added.

The inauguration of Arewa4Asiwaju attracted prominent political figures from the region, including the President’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Masari, alongside former governors, ministers, presidential advisers and other influential stakeholders.

The gathering forms part of broader efforts by Tinubu’s supporters to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and consolidate political structures across Northern Nigeria ahead of the next presidential election.

Kwankwaso said the initiative would help rally regional leaders behind the President’s development agenda and translate their political endorsements into electoral support.

He reiterated that the North’s commitment to Tinubu would be demonstrated through votes in 2027, expressing confidence that the region would play a significant role in determining the outcome of the presidential contest.

Some political stakeholders in Rivers State have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to relocate election result collation centres from local government council secretariats to police stations ahead of the 2027 general election.

The stakeholders alleged that opposition party agents were intimidated and denied access to collation centres during previous elections, creating opportunities for the manipulation of results.

They argued that moving the centres to police stations, particularly central police stations in each local government area, would improve transparency, enhance security and protect the integrity of the electoral process.

Former Labour Party (LP) chairman in Rivers State, Prince Favour Reuben, said opposition party agents were frequently prevented from entering local government secretariats during result collation.

Reuben alleged that the restriction of access had, in some instances, created room for the alteration of election results.

He cited the 2023 general election as an example, claiming that results were changed at some collation centres in local government areas where the ruling party allegedly exercised considerable control.

According to him, the concentration of political and administrative influence at local government secretariats could undermine the credibility of the collation process if opposition agents were denied access.

Reuben urged INEC to consider relocating the exercise to central police stations across the state’s local government areas, with access limited to duly accredited party agents and authorised election officials.

“If INEC wants to make us believe that the coming election will be free, fair and credible, the collation centres should be moved to police stations,” he said.

He maintained that the proposed arrangement would reduce the influence of local political interests and help protect collation officers from intimidation.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Rivers State, Ben Ogbogbulam, said political parties had previously presented their concerns to INEC and urged the commission to reconsider the use of local government secretariats.

Ogbogbulam, who is also the Rivers State chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), alleged that the existing arrangement had made it difficult for some opposition agents to monitor the collation of results effectively.

He expressed concern over what he described as possible manipulation at the centres and the treatment of ad hoc election workers.

The IPAC secretary said opposition parties were taking steps to prevent a recurrence of the alleged irregularities during the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, a rights activist, Dr Omenazu Jackson, called on INEC to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action where necessary.

Jackson also cautioned political leaders against actions capable of undermining the interests of voters, stressing the importance of safeguarding the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.

The stakeholders maintained that credible elections would require transparent result collation, unrestricted access for accredited party agents and effective measures to prevent intimidation and electoral malpractice.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has launched a fresh attack on President Bola Tinubu over the removal of petrol subsidy, accusing the president of worsening the economic hardship confronting Nigerians while defending the policy as a major achievement.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said Tinubu’s comparison of demands for fuel subsidy relief to a call for Moses to return to Egypt demonstrated a lack of understanding of the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the former vice-president accused Tinubu of celebrating the removal of petrol subsidy without adequately addressing its consequences for households and businesses.

Atiku argued that the president’s decision to end the subsidy on his first day in office had triggered severe economic pressures, particularly through rising transportation costs, food prices and the cost of running businesses.

“Bola, you are the Egypt Nigerians are desperate to escape,” Atiku said, accusing the president of lecturing citizens on the need to avoid returning to a policy they believe could provide relief from escalating living costs.

He further criticised Tinubu’s use of biblical references to defend the policy, arguing that Nigerians needed practical solutions to their economic difficulties rather than metaphors.

According to Atiku, many families are struggling to afford food, workers are spending a significant portion of their earnings on transportation, and businesses are grappling with the high cost of electricity.

He maintained that the administration must explain how it intends to make life more affordable instead of presenting the removal of the subsidy as an accomplishment.

The ADC presidential candidate also outlined his proposed approach to easing fuel costs, promising a targeted support scheme for verified petroleum products refined locally and sold to Nigerian consumers.

Under the proposal, he said, imported fuel would not qualify for the support, while independent auditors would monitor the programme to ensure transparency and accountability.

Atiku added that the intervention would be considered unsuccessful if it failed to reduce the prices paid by consumers at the pump.

Beyond the economy, the former vice-president criticised the Tinubu administration over the worsening security situation, insisting that the president could not continue to rely on the failures of his predecessor to explain persistent attacks, kidnappings and other security threats.

He faulted the reported defence by Tinubu’s campaign Director-General, who questioned what the president could achieve against insecurity when former President Muhammadu Buhari, a retired military general, had been unable to eliminate the problem.

Atiku cited the administration of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as an example of leadership that, in his view, demonstrated that progress could be made in tackling insecurity.

He said Nigerians expected the president to protect lives, rescue abducted citizens and restore confidence in travelling, farming and conducting business without fear of attacks.

Atiku argued that the security situation under Tinubu should be assessed based on the administration’s own performance rather than comparisons with previous governments.

He added that the president would struggle to justify seeking another term in office if he could not present a convincing plan to address the country’s security challenges.

The former vice-president also expressed concern over the welfare of serving and retired police officers, alleging that inadequate remuneration and poor retirement benefits were undermining their ability to provide effective service.

He cited the case of a retired Assistant Superintendent of Police who reportedly told him that he received a monthly pension of ₦29,000.

Atiku further alleged that some serving police personnel were relying on their pension savings to meet household expenses, raising questions about their financial security despite the risks associated with their duties.

He urged Tinubu to address the concerns of retired officers, act on the Police Exit Bill and review the salaries of serving police personnel, noting that members of the Armed Forces had benefited from salary adjustments.

According to him, police officers require adequate pay, healthcare and retirement benefits to perform their duties without the added burden of worrying about their families’ welfare.

Atiku concluded by accusing the Tinubu administration of failing to provide sufficient relief from economic hardship and insecurity.

He insisted that Nigerians deserved affordable energy, safer communities and improved welfare for security personnel, adding that the country needed policies capable of producing tangible improvements in citizens’ daily lives.

“Tinubu made life expensive. I will make life affordable again,” Atiku declared.