EBOLA: MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS URGE VIRTUAL CAMPAIGNS AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTIONS

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, medical laboratory scientists have called for virtual political campaigns amid concerns about Ebola.

The proposal puts public health at the centre of election preparations and raises a practical question: can candidates connect with voters without bringing large crowds together?

Online campaigns could allow political parties to share their plans through livestreams, digital town halls and social media discussions. Voters could listen to candidates, ask questions and compare promises from their homes or other convenient locations.

However, moving campaigns online would come with challenges. Unreliable internet access, expensive mobile data and limited electricity could prevent some Nigerians from taking part. Radio and television programmes could help reach people who cannot easily join online conversations.

Public discussion also needs accurate health information. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person who has symptoms or has died, or with contaminated materials. Decisions about campaign gatherings should therefore reflect the actual health situation and guidance from public health authorities. World Health Organization

The call for virtual campaigns brings attention to how election activities could adapt during a health emergency. For voters, the priority would be having safe, accessible opportunities to hear candidates’ plans and make informed choices ahead of the polls.