THE candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Asue Ighodalo did not show up to talk to Edo voters through a debate.
The residents of Edo were glued to their television sets on Sunday, September 15 to hear from those who are aspiring to lead their state for the next four years only to be left disappointed as two major candidates refused to show up for the debate.
The debate was organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in conjunction with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).
The candidates who appeared for the debate were those of the Labour Party (LP), Olumide Akpata, Action Democratic Congress (ADC) Derek Izedonmwen and People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Patience Ndidi-Key.
The Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG) expressed disappointment at the absence of Ighodalo and Okpebolo and urged the citizens to demand accountability from those seeking to govern them.
The executive secretary of NEDG, Eddie Emessiri, condemned the last-minute withdrawal of the APC and PDP candidates from the governorship debate in Edo State.
He expressed disappointment and frustration that despite the collective efforts of BON, NUJ and NEDG to organise a debate for the governorship election, the handlers of the two major candidates informed them at the last minute that their principals wouldn’t be attending.
Emessiri said he views the action of the two candidates as disrespectful to the organisers but, more importantly, to the voters of Edo State who were looking forward to hearing directly from those seeking their votes.
Akpata the LP candidate also expressed his disappointment and concern over the absence of the APC and PDP candidates at the scheduled debate.
He viewed their failure to attend as a sign of disrespect, not only to the NUJ and BON but also to the people of Edo State.
Akpata accused the two candidates of relying on violence and manipulation to win the governorship election, which is why they skipped the debate.
While urging the media to condemn their actions, Akpata questioned why a candidate would seek to govern without sharing their plans with the people.
“I will implore the media to condemn this. I expect to see headlines from tomorrow condemning this total disrespect for Edo people,” Akpata stated.
The ADC candidate, Izedonmwen also expressed disappointment that the APC and PDP candidates skipped the debate, imitating Tinubu’s 2023 strategy where he declined the debate invitation yet won the election.
He urged Edo people to reject this trend, emphasising that candidates should engage with voters and share their visions.
On her part, Ndidi-Key of the PRP believes that the two major political parties are taking the people for granted because they’re receiving unnecessary respect and admiration.
She said it’s time for people to stop giving them special treatment and hold them accountable for their actions.
The Edo governorship election is due to be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024, across the state.
Shunning opportunities to address voters by Nigerian politician is not an uncommon trends which can be observed in the different election cycles. Former President Muhammadu Buhari shunned debates in 2015 and 2019, but won the elections.
Monday Philips Ekpe a member of Thisday newspaper editorial board notes that while there are no laws mandating political debate but they are expedient.
Making the argument in an article published by The Cable just before the 2023 general election, Ekpe said “In Nigeria, like in most other countries of the world, neither in the Constitution of the Federal Republic nor Electoral Act is it explicitly stated that participation in such exercises is mandatory, meaning there can’t possibly be violations of legal codes by any political office seeker in this regard. The argument here is, therefore, not about its enforceability. It can and should, however, be about its morality, desirability and suitability.”
In a similar vein, Punch newspaper in an editorial titled ‘Debates deepen democracy’ following a debate for held for US presidential candidates said it gave the electorate a ring side of the contestant.
“The recent one between Donald Trump of the Republican party and Vice-President Kamala Harris of the Democratic party in the United States gave the electorate a ring-side view of contestants and a better chance to choose” it reads.
It added that by contrast ” Nigerian politicians view debates with disdain, the same way they view the people they lead. Sadly, the no-show candidates win!”
Will this be the case in Edo? Will the no show candidate win?
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance