Presidential debate scheduled on January 19, 2019

The fixed date for debate for presidential candidates that are taking part in 2019 elections is the 19^th of January 2019.  The Nigerian Election Debate Group has set the 14^th of December, 2018 as a date of the vice presidential candidates’ debate. This information as reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was disclosed by John Momoh, the chairman of the Nigerian Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

Mr. Momoh also informed about the location of the upcoming debates, it will be the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Also, he said that the event would be broadcast live. According to the NAN and BON chairman, it is essential for the candidates to take part in debates because they will have an opportunity to explain their plans and decisions to the voting public. However, John Momoh also said that to avoid such practice as the absence of some candidates at such type of the event can be regulated a law put in place. He added that attempts to create a Debate Commission were made in the past, but after passing the two readings, the bill was stepped down.

John Momoh expressed his opinion saying that many of problems in our country derive from that fact that many decisions are made by the country leaders behind the closed doors. He believes that our nation will be stronger if the elected leaders will be accessible, transparent and reporting to Nigerian citizens if they will illuminate their decisions and giving answers to essential questions. This practice should begin long before the election, and such kind of debate for candidates can become a good start.

Mr. Momoh informed that the group would set the special rules for the debates to guarantee the objectivity of audiences as well as regulate all discussions between the parties and broadcasters.

The participants of the debates will be the following:

President Muhammadu Buhari is the candidate from APC candidate, and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is his running mate.

The second pair of candidates is Alhaji Atiku Abubakar – the presidential candidate from PDP and Peter Obi.

Hopefully, John Momoh is right, and the debates of the candidates will start a good practice, and our leaders will become more transparent and open to the citizens of their country.