Akwa Ibom online publishers back NUJ election debate
Etim Ekpimah
The Coalition of Online Publishers Association (COOPA), Akwa Ibom State, has pledged to work with the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to ensure the success of its planned 2027 election debate.
The commitment followed a meeting in Uyo on Sunday between the NUJ 2027 Election Debate Planning Committee and the leadership of COOPA, where both sides agreed to collaborate on the initiative.
Chairman of the planning committee, Ndanti Ekuh, who attended the meeting with the committee’s secretary, Nse-Abasi Valentine, said the debate was conceived to give candidates contesting the 2027 general elections an opportunity to present their programmes directly to the people.
Ekuh said the initiative was driven by the need to encourage informed political choices by allowing voters to assess candidates on their ideas, policies and understanding of the issues affecting Akwa Ibom State.
According to him, the debate would be conducted independently and without political bias, adding that it would focus on issues that matter to the people rather than personalities or partisan interests.
“The debate is expected to provide a credible platform for candidates to tell the people what they intend to do if elected,” Ekuh said, stressing that the organisers would not compromise the integrity of the exercise.
COOPA Chancellor, Utitofon Morgan, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important opportunity for voters to hear directly from those seeking public office.
Morgan said the debate would help electorates distinguish between candidates based on their programmes and capacity to represent their constituents, rather than relying solely on political campaigns and rhetoric.
Flanked by members of the association’s executive committee, he pledged the full support and participation of online publishers in the state, saying COOPA was prepared to partner with the NUJ to broaden public access to the debate.
The collaboration is expected to give the debate wider reach through digital platforms, enabling more residents to follow the candidates’ positions and engage with the issues raised.
The NUJ is scheduled to formally unveil the 2027 Election Debate at a press briefing at the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 10am.
