A group, made up of civil societies organizations, labour, professional bodies, media, and religious bodies has concluded arrangements to organize a debate for Governorship candidates in the October 10 polls.
The group, Face the Voter Initiative, explained at a press conference on Monday, in Akure, that the debate is aimed at creating a credible platform for an effective interface between candidates and the people in the first instance, and among the candidates themselves.
According to the spokesman of the group, Dr Gbenga Abimbola, the goal of election debates is to promote political tolerance, constructive dialogue and selfless service to the people.
“Election debate provides a neutral platform where candidates of political parties are grilled by independent moderators on critical issues to enable the audience to compare the candidates’ positions on such issues.
“As a matter of fact, debates are often the only time during a campaign when candidates are together at the same time in the same place.
“Debates also seek to fill the gap created by the one-way communication model that characterizes campaigns whereby politicians only talk at the people without allowing people to ask questions.”
Dr Abimbola, a lecturer at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, pointed out that the idea was conceived and owned by critical stakeholders within the state to make it indigenous.
“This is because the organisers are stakeholders entirely domiciled in the state with the advantage of understanding of the terrain that makes it possible for our story to be better told by us.
“It affords the contestants the opportunity to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission’s directive to political parties and their candidates to explore the media option (both conventional and social platforms) to reach the electorate rather than mass gathering campaigns in line with the Covid-19 protocols.
“The event, which will hold on 29th of September and 4th of October, will be broadcast live on Radio and Television stations based in the state as well as on digital platforms.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission and domestic/international observers are being invited to monitor the debates while security agencies shall be on ground to maintain law and order.
“The target audience is primarily the citizens of the Sunshine State who are going to elect a governor come October 10, 2020.
He advised political parties participating in this year’s election to take advantage of the initiative and participate in the public debates where their candidates will showcase the stuff they are made of by answering questions on critical sectors of the state’s economy and development.
“This will afford the electorate the rare opportunity to meet them in real terms,” he added.
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