The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has released the list of members of its national campaign council ahead of the 2027 general elections, with former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, named chairman.   The party also named its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as co-chairman and its vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as co-vice chairman of the campaign council. Channels Television reported on Monday, October 26, 2026, that the party announced the newly constituted council on Sunday as part of preparations for the forthcoming general elections. Senator Cleopas Zuwoghe was named vice-chairman, while former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, was listed as a member of the National Campaign Advisory Council. Other members of the campaign council include Ikenna Enekweizu, Sidi Abdul, Babatunde Alli, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Senator Victor Umeh, Buba Galadima, Yakubu Ochefu, Mahmud Jahun, Moshood Salvador, Dudu Manuga, Victor Ogene and Muktar Usman. Ibrahim Abdulkarim was named Director-General of the Presidential Campaign, while NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, was appointed Director of Communication and Media. A former defence spokesperson, Major General John Enenche (retd.), was appointed Director of Security and Intelligence. The party also constituted a 40-member National Campaign Advisory Council and appointed 37 state campaign coordinators to support its campaign activities across the country. NDC Outlines Campaign Council’s Responsibilities In a statement announcing the appointments on its official X account, the NDC said the campaign council would provide strategic leadership, coordinate campaign activities nationwide and mobilise Nigerians behind the party’s vision. The party said the council would work towards delivering a people-centred and issue-based campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections. It also called on party members, supporters and Nigerians to remain united as it prepares for the polls. The NDC is among the political parties preparing to contest the 2027 general elections in Nigeria. The party’s announcement comes amid preparations by political parties to organise their campaign structures ahead of the next electoral cycle.  

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has placed 53 people linked to Nigeria’s confirmed Ebola case under surveillance, including healthcare workers, domestic staff and the patient’s spouse.   The agency disclosed this in its Ebola Disease Situation Report dated October 24, 2026, as public health authorities intensify efforts to prevent further transmission of the disease. According to the NCDC, a suspected Ebola case reported by Rivers State on October 23 tested negative following laboratory investigations. NCDC Tracks 53 Contacts The NCDC said the 53 contacts linked to the confirmed case had been identified, categorised and placed under follow-up. The contacts include healthcare workers, household members and other individuals who may have been exposed to the patient. The index case involves a 42-year-old woman who arrived in Nigeria from Uganda through Addis Ababa on October 3, 2026, aboard an international flight to Abuja. The patient reportedly developed symptoms four days after arriving in Nigeria and visited a private health facility on October 10. She subsequently presented at another private facility on October 11, where she was admitted. The NCDC said it was notified of the case on October 19, prompting an investigation and sample collection. The agency’s National Reference Laboratory confirmed the Ebola infection on October 20. Symptoms reported at presentation included fever, diarrhoea, generalised body aches and a sore throat. The report stated that the patient had no reported bleeding. Contacts to Be Monitored for 21 Days NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said the Federal Government was coordinating the response through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the NCDC, Federal Capital Territory health authorities and other partners. Speaking at a press briefing on Sunday, Idris acknowledged public concerns following the confirmation of the case but said established public health systems and response plans were being deployed to prevent further transmission. He explained that contact tracing was being coordinated through an Incident Management System and an Emergency Operations Centre, under the leadership of Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Presidential Task Force on Ebola Virus Disease. According to Idris, public health teams are working to identify individuals who may have been exposed, assess their risk levels and monitor their health for 21 days after their last possible exposure. The monitoring process covers healthcare workers, patients, caregivers, household members, travel-related contacts and other people with relevant exposure histories. Idris urged Nigerians contacted by public health officials to cooperate fully and provide accurate information about their movements, contacts and any symptoms they may have experienced. He stressed that being identified as a contact does not mean a person has Ebola, explaining that surveillance helps health authorities detect potential infections early and prevent further spread. NCDC Calls for Stronger Hospital Safety Measures The NCDC chief commended healthcare workers whose vigilance and clinical judgement helped identify the confirmed case and trigger the public health response. He also recognised the contributions of professionals involved in surveillance, contact tracing, laboratory diagnosis, case management, infection prevention, community engagement and public communication. Idris assured healthcare workers that the Federal Government would prioritise their safety, health and welfare throughout the response. He called on public and private healthcare facilities across Nigeria to review and strengthen their infection prevention and control measures. According to him, hospitals must consistently implement screening and triage procedures, maintain high levels of suspicion when patients present with compatible symptoms and relevant exposure histories, and observe standard precautions. He also highlighted the importance of hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, injection safety, safe handling of sharps and proper waste management. Healthcare facilities were urged to ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment was available in sufficient quantities and that staff were trained to use it correctly. Idris further advised that suspected cases should be promptly separated from other patients and reported to the relevant public health authorities without waiting for laboratory confirmation before taking necessary precautions. He emphasised that protecting healthcare workers was essential to safeguarding the communities they serve. The NCDC’s latest update comes amid ongoing efforts by Nigerian health authorities and their partners to monitor potential exposures and contain the confirmed Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has secured re-election after defeating right-wing challenger Flávio Bolsonaro in a closely contested presidential run-off, while his rival has vowed to challenge the results and seek the annulment of the vote.   Official results showed Lula winning 51.8 per cent of the votes against 48.2 per cent for Bolsonaro, giving the incumbent an advantage of approximately 4.4 million votes. Bolsonaro, a senator and son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, rejected the outcome, describing the decision to extend voting hours as unacceptable and alleging that the process was unfair. “It is impossible to recognise the results. I am going to request the annulment of these elections,” he said in a brief speech in Brasília. Voting Extension Sparks Controversy The election was marked by confusion after Brazil’s Supreme Court extended voting by two hours, with some polling stations having already closed. The extension followed a request from Lula, who complained that buses had been withdrawn from circulation in several cities, preventing some citizens from reaching polling stations. Bolsonaro also requested an extension in some regions because of heavy rainfall but criticised the final decision. Lula’s victory marks a significant political comeback, securing him an unprecedented fourth presidential term. The 80-year-old leader turns 81 on Tuesday. His win also comes amid a broader shift towards conservative politics in several Latin American countries, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Lula Campaigns on Democracy Following his defeat in the first round, Lula’s campaign intensified its efforts with large rallies and a renewed social media strategy under the slogan “Never Again Bolsonaro”. The abstention rate fell from 21 per cent in the first round to 19 per cent in the run-off. Speaking after the victory, Lula said voters had been persuaded of the importance of participating in the election to protect democracy. “People went to vote because we managed to convince them that voting was very important for ensuring democracy in the country,” he said. Supporters celebrated across Brazil, with crowds gathering in São Paulo and fireworks lighting up Rio de Janeiro. The campaign was also marked by disputes over social media platforms. Lula’s team accused Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, of favouring Bolsonaro through alleged algorithmic manipulation. Meta denied the allegation but acknowledged that technical errors had resulted in some of Lula’s campaign advertisements being deactivated. Lula said the outcome reinforced his position that social media companies would need greater regulation. Brazil Remains Deeply Divided Despite his victory, Lula faces the challenge of governing a country in which nearly half of voters supported his opponent. The election exposed continuing divisions over the economy, the cost of living, crime and the country’s political direction. Lula first became president in 2003 and won re-election in 2006. He returned to office in 2023 after defeating Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 election. Before his return, Lula spent more than 18 months in prison following corruption convictions that were later annulled on procedural grounds. During his third term, his administration oversaw lower inflation and unemployment, while millions of people were lifted out of hunger. However, concerns about living costs and crime remained important issues for voters. Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, presented himself as a more moderate alternative to his father, attracting conservative supporters and voters seeking political change. Lula’s next term will also be complicated by a Congress dominated by right-wing lawmakers, potentially limiting his ability to advance his legislative agenda. Lula Faces Challenges in Fourth Term Lula’s campaign placed considerable emphasis on Brazil’s national sovereignty amid commercial and diplomatic pressure from the United States under President Donald Trump. “This country will not accept being anyone’s backyard,” Lula said on Sunday. Following the result, Chilean President José Antonio Kast and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa congratulated Lula. Both leaders have close ties to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also welcomed the outcome in a post on X, declaring that Brazil’s people had won a victory for democracy. Lula will be 85 by the end of his new term in 2030, making his return to office a historic development in Brazilian politics. However, Bolsonaro’s pledge to challenge the election results introduces fresh uncertainty as Brazil prepares for another four years under Lula’s leadership.