The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has demanded that President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) account for the ₦10 billion announced for Ebola emergency preparedness. The ADC's Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, signed a statement on October 23, 2026, saying the APC's response to questions about the money trail was a lesson in wordplay rather than governance.
APC's Wordplay Response Draws Criticism
The APC had earlier responded to questions from Atiku Abubakar about the ₦10 billion fund by pointing out that "Bola" sounds like "Ebola." Shaibu, in the statement, dismissed this as insufficient, describing it as an indictment rather than a defence. He demanded that the government publish release documents, account records, and the Task Force's expenditure reports.
Shaibu posed a series of direct questions: "Was the money released or was it not? If it was released, where is it held, who controls it, and why has it not been used for the preparedness President Tinubu announced?" He added that the APC's claim that the fund remains "untouched" should be verified with concrete evidence.
Questions on the Response Timeline
Beyond the financial questions, Shaibu raised concerns about the timeline of the government's response after a confirmed Ebola case in Abuja. According to the World Health Organization, the patient developed symptoms on October 7, sought care at a private facility on October 11, and received laboratory confirmation on October 20.
The ADC asked when Ebola was first suspected, when public health authorities were alerted, when testing was ordered, and when contact tracing began. The APC had claimed surveillance "tipped off" the government, but Shaibu said the party should name the agency that raised the alert, give the date, and explain what action followed.
Shaibu also addressed the 44 identified contacts, stating that their health must be protected, not used as material for a party press release. He pushed back against any suggestion that a health emergency could be used to interfere with campaigning or voting, calling on the government to publish any proposed restrictions alongside their medical justification and the advice of health authorities.
Call for Accountability
Shaibu concluded: "Show Nigerians where the money is. Explain the response timeline. Protect health workers. Trace every contact. President Tinubu and the APC owe the country answers, not 'Bola-Ebola' tales."
Atiku Abubakar is the presidential candidate of the ADC for the 2027 general elections, having emerged from the party's primary on May 27, 2026, and been ratified by the party's National Executive Committee on May 30, 2026. The ADC's demand for accountability comes amid growing public concern over the government's handling of the Ebola preparedness fund and the response to the confirmed case in Abuja.
