NEDG postpones 2023 Elections Presidential Debates till December

CHIGOZIE IKPO, Abuja 

The National Election Debate Group (NEDG) has announced the postponement of the Presidential debates ahead of the 2023 general elections.

According to a statement signed by the Executive Secretary of NEDG, Eddie Emessiri, the debates which were earlier scheduled to hold on Tuesday, November 15, will now hold in December.

Emessiri said the postponement was due to the turn of events from the recent Town Hall event for Presidential candidates hosted by Arise Television on Sunday, November 6.

He revealed that the resolution to postpone the debates was reached after a meeting by relevant stakeholders, various committees for the election debates, and the media.

The statement read in parts, “The recent Town Hall event hosted by Arise Television on Sunday, November 6, 2022, and its immediate impact calls for our concern, and this has made it necessary for the Nigerian Election Debates Group (NEDG), to make public its views on the issues of debates, politics and the entrenchment of a democratic culture of our nation.”

The NEDG boss highlighted various issues that occurred in the Town hall event Arise Television, citing poor planning as a major factor, including the fact that the programme did not start at the earlier scheduled and the fact that Vice Presidential candidates were pitched with Presidential candidates, describing the entire debate as a “Sham.”

“Governor Okowa, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,  explained that the organisers had allowed him to represent his principal, Waziri Atiku Abubakar. Even more worrisome, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose name had been earlier announced did not show up. Did Arise Television officials not know in advance that Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not show up?  Finally, during question time, senator dino melaye was allowed to ask a question even though he was known to be an interested party in the event.”

“NEDG shall therefore conclude its ongoing dialogue with the inter-party advisory council (IPAC) on the inclusion of all Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates in all debates scheduled for the 2023 general elections. The postponement brings the debates close to a period when political parties are neck-deep in their rallies and may find it difficult to be drawn away from their political schedules.

“We prevailed on all political parties to endeavor to make time to present their candidates for the debates as an act of evasion reveals the inherent characteristics of dictatorship in a democratic dispensation. The general public should bear with us to allow tempers heightened by events that occurred on November 6, 2022, to calm down.

“We use this medium to tender our unreserved apologies to all political parties who may have changed their schedules to suit the dates we have previously scheduled for November 15, 2022. We are certain that when ongoing arrangements are concluded with the executive committee of IPAC, the candidates and electorates would benefit from the adjustments being introduced to the debates.” the statement read.

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