The camp of African Democratic Congress ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to face Nigerians at the ballot box rather than hide behind Ebola or other excuses to avoid testing his popularity.

The challenge was made in a statement on Wednesday by Atiku senior media aide Phrank Shuaibu while reacting to the current political situation in the country.

According to the camp, Nigerians are tired and suffering under economic hardship and the only way to know if the President is still loved by the people is to face them at the ballot.

The statement said Tinubu must face Nigerians at the ballot box not hide behind Ebola, adding that hiding behind any excuse will not save the administration from the judgement of Nigerians feeling the hardship.

The camp said democracy thrives when leaders submit themselves to the will of the people through the ballot not through excuses.

It also raised alarm over alleged pressure on INEC to shift the January 16 2027 presidential election, warning that the election date belongs to Nigerians and must not be rewritten behind closed doors at the Villa. It cited the NCDC Director General position that there is currently no reason to postpone the election as evidence that health situation does not justify a change in timetable.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council also demanded accountability for the N10 billion approved for Ebola preparedness in June, asking the government to publish amount disbursed, payment dates, contracts awarded and items delivered, and questioned the nine day interval between the patient seeking care on October 11 and public confirmation on October 20.

As at the time of filing this report, the Presidency is yet to react to the statement.