A non-governmental organisation, Democracy and governance at Policy Alert said it has concluded plan to host a governorship debate in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
The Programme officer of the group, Utibe Archibong who disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference held in the Correspondents Chapel, Asutan street said the debate would enable the candidates to once again role out their various blueprints to the people.
Archibong said the debate which was slated to be held on Wednesday, the 27th of February 2019 at the mini-theartre of the Ibom E-Library would have six governorship candidates as the contestants.
She said the six contestants who were painstainkingly chosen through grassroots opinion polls and social media polls included, Udom Emmanuel, Nsima Ekere, Iboro Otu, Nyak Etok, Nature Udoh and Obongette Emmanuel.
The Press text partly read, “On behalf of Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, Policy Alert, Youth Alive Foundation (YAF) and TV Continental, we are pleased to announce that plans have been concluded to hold the Akwa Ibom State 2019 Governorship Elections Debate in Uyo, the state capital.
“This is designed to afford candidates of various political parties the opportunity to engage citizens, civil society and other interest groups with their proposed programmes and actions with a view to deepening active participation in the electoral process.
“It will also afford candidates a platform to further market their suitability while promoting trust between candidates and potential voters, thereby strengthening the social contract element of our democracy.
“The final six candidates for the debate were selected through a transparent and rigorous opinion poll that was conducted in-person with potential voters across Akwa Ibom communities and through digital and social media platforms over the past three weeks.”
Archibong however urged the candidates to take advantage of the debate platform to position their candidacies as being anchored on respect for the democratic principles of plurality, transparency, tolerance, citizen engagement, inclusion and deliberation.
