2023: Six governorship candidates to participate in NUJ debate

Akpan Umoh, Uyo
No fewer than six governorship candidates are billed to participate in the forthcoming Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council political debate for the 2023 general elections.

Chairman, Political Committee, Nigeria Union of Journalists Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Aniekan Udofia, said this on Thursday during the official unveiling of the logo for the debate scheduled for January 29, 2023 in Uyo.
Udofia said out of the 18 political parties consulted for the debate in the state, only six indicated interest to participate in the debate.
According to him, the following political parties had indicated interest to participate in the debate; African Alliance Congress(AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Young Peoples Party( YPP).
Other political parties are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) will be represented by the party’s governorship candidate.
“The 2023 Akwa Ibom Governorship Debate is scheduled to hold on Sunday, 29 Jan. 2023 at Ibom Icon Hotels and Golf Resort at 4 pm. The venue for the Debate has been paid for and we are set for the day.
“The Debate will broadcast live on 11 radio stations, and six television stations and streamed live on several social media platforms for the people to hear first-hand the plans of the invited governorship candidates for the state,” Udofia said.
Udofia explained that 20 partners are collaborating with the NUJ political committee to sponsor the gubernatorial debate.
He mentioned the partners to include; Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ibom Peoples Congress in the United States of America, Franklyn Farms Ltd as well as the organised private sector.
He said that to ensure neutrality and unbiased, the committee did not solicit financial support from any governorship candidate or political parties as the rules of the debate will be strictly adhered to.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NUJ Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk, said the debate was organised to give Akwa Ibom people an opportunity to make a good choice for the person that will govern the state.
He said the union would ensure the debate will be acceptable to all the people and bring the state to the world map.