Residents of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed fears over participating in campaigns and voting in the 2027 general elections amid concerns about the reported outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.
The residents said their willingness to participate in the electoral process would depend largely on assurances from the government and relevant health authorities that the virus had been contained and that voting could take place without the risk of infection.
Some of them said they might collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the elections but would not necessarily turn out to vote if concerns about the virus remained unresolved.
They also expressed reservations about attending political rallies, campaign gatherings and other activities likely to attract large crowds as political parties and aspirants prepare for the 2027 elections.
In separate interviews, the residents from AMAC and Bwari said the fear of contracting the virus could influence their decisions about participating in the electoral process.
A resident of AMAC, who identified himself as Chinedu Okafor, said he would prioritise his health and safety over attending political gatherings or voting if the government failed to provide convincing assurances about the disease.
“I am interested in the 2027 elections, and I intend to collect my PVC. But if the Ebola virus is still a threat by the time we are expected to vote, I may decide to stay at home.
“I cannot risk my life because of an election. The government must first assure us that the virus has been contained and that there is no danger of contracting it while participating in political activities,” he said.
Another AMAC resident, Aisha Bala, said the possibility of gathering in crowded polling units and campaign venues was a major source of concern.
“Campaigns usually attract large crowds, and on election day, people gather at polling units for hours. If there is any risk of Ebola spreading, I will not feel comfortable going out to vote.
“Collecting my PVC does not mean I must expose myself to danger. I will only consider participating if the government clearly announces that the outbreak has been contained and the public is safe,” she said.
In Bwari, a resident, Ibrahim Musa, said the government needed to provide timely and credible information about the outbreak to prevent fear and uncertainty from discouraging voters.
He said residents would find it difficult to participate in the elections if they remained uncertain about the risk of infection.
“I want to vote in 2027, but my health comes first. If the government has not assured us that Ebola has been contained, I will not attend rallies or go to the polling unit.
“We need clear information from the health authorities. Until they confirm that the situation is under control and it is safe to move around, I would rather remain at home than take unnecessary risks,” Musa said.
Similarly, Grace John, another resident of Bwari, said she would reconsider her participation in the elections if concerns about the virus persisted.
According to her, the government and electoral authorities must work with health officials to ensure that voters are adequately informed about the safety of participating in the elections.
“I will collect my PVC because I believe in choosing our leaders, but I may not vote if the Ebola threat remains. Nobody wants to contract a deadly disease because they went out to exercise their civic rights.
“The government should tell us the truth about the situation and assure us that the virus has been contained before encouraging people to attend campaigns or elections,” she said.
The concerns come as political parties and aspirants prepare for the 2027 general elections, with campaigns and other election-related activities expected to bring supporters together across the country.
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