The APC Presidential Campaign Council has accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of politicising Nigeria’s Ebola response, insisting that the N10 billion approved by President Bola Tinubu for the emergency remains untouched.
The council made the allegation in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Dele Alake, in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, 2026, while responding to Atiku’s criticism of the government’s handling of the public health concern.
The statement faulted a title attributed to Atiku’s remarks that linked Tinubu’s first name to Ebola and questioned how the Presidential Task Force spent the approved funds.
“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 challenged Atiku’s understanding of the virus, explaining that the interval between infection and the appearance of symptoms could account for the delay in detecting the reported case involving a Nigerian who travelled from Uganda.
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 added.
The council said the infected Nigerian sought medical attention several days after exposure, with multiple tests subsequently confirming the infection.
On the financial questions surrounding the emergency response, the APC campaign council maintained that the N10 billion approved by Tinubu in June had not been spent.
It said the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other surveillance agencies had been using other available resources to monitor the situation.
The council praised the agencies for their surveillance operations at entry points, saying the system helped alert authorities to the index case and facilitated contact tracing for 44 people linked to the patient.
It argued that the government’s response deserved recognition rather than political criticism, accusing Atiku’s camp of resorting to attacks instead of acknowledging the work of health authorities.
The statement also rejected an allegation attributed to Atiku that a ministerial briefing was intended to discourage Nigerians from attending campaign rallies or voting.
Describing the claim as speculative, the council said the former vice president should provide verifiable evidence before making such a serious allegation, particularly during electioneering.
It maintained that the press conference in question had not raised the issue of campaign rallies or voting but had appealed to Nigerians to comply with protocols announced by the Presidential Task Force.
The council urged Atiku and his supporters to refrain from politicising public health concerns, stressing the need for cooperation between the government, opposition parties and health professionals.
“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 said.
“Nigerians deserve, first of all, protection from the deadly disease,” it added.