The 2nd Presidential debate begins in Abuja

The 2nd Presidential debate begins in Abuja
Ben Shemang, Abuja

The Nigeria Election Debate Group has commenced the Presidential debates.

The debate, featuring eight political parties began on Monday with the Vice Presidential candidates.

The Chairman Board of Trustees of the group, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa, who is also the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, told a news conference in Abuja that the candidates had an ideal avenue to convey their programmes to millions of Nigerians on Live TV and radio, local and international.

According to Him, 40 million Nigerians are scheduled to watch the debate, while the hall for the debate accommodates 500 audience participants.

The Chairman, Nigeria Election Debate Group, Mr. Taiwo Alimi, assured Nigerians that questions for the candidate were submitted via internet to safeguard the credibility of the process. He also allayed the fears of bias from the opposition parties. 

The debate

The debate focuses on key issues germane to the growth of Nigeria and democratic culture.  Vice Presidential candidates were given opportunity to give opening remarks and answer questions from two panellists drawn from the Nigerian media.

Three vice presidential candidates boycotted the debate as earlier indicated in a   press release to Nigerians by the organisers of the debate, citing bias and non-appearance of the ruling party candidates in the NN24 Presidential debate last week.

They  are Fola Adeola of ACN,John Oyegun ,ANPP  and   Pastor Tunde Bakare of CPC.

The vice presidential candidates  who showed up were Namadi Sambo, of the ruling People’s Democratic party,  Engineer Gabriel Ogbona, National Transformation Party and United  National Party for Development’s Alhaji Galadima  Samari.

The Presidential candidate will slug it out on Tuesday. It is expected that President Goodluck Jonathan, General Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change, Nuhu Ribadu of Action Congress of Nigeria and the current Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of the All Nigeria Peoples Party will participate.

The debate organisers say they are only featuring political parties that have candidates contesting for seats at the House of Representatives.

The National Assembly election will hold on April 2, while the Presidential election will hold on

April 9. The Gubernatorial and House of Assembly election will hold on April 16.

Williams/Qasim/Ekata