Lagos gov candidates to face voters at debate

L-R: Obafemi Hamzat, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Funso Doherty.

The Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition of five media organisations, has fixed November 8 for a governorship debate in Lagos, marking the opening of its series of public engagements with candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The debate, scheduled for 7 pm at The Hub by IALA, House of His Glory, Marwa, Lekki, will bring participating governorship candidates onto a common platform to present their programmes and respond to questions on issues affecting residents of the state.

The consortium comprises Channels Television, TVC News, The PUNCH, TheCable and Vanguard Newspaper.

In a statement released by the consortium, signed by Babajide Kolade-Otitoju of TVC and General Manager of Channels Television, Kingsley Uranta, and obtained by The PUNCH on Sunday, the organisers said the Lagos debate was intended to allow voters to scrutinise candidates’ policy proposals and assess their preparedness to govern, rather than rely solely on campaign promises.

The debate is expected to cover transportation, infrastructure, security, housing, education, healthcare, job creation and economic growth.

Explaining its participation, the statement said the exercise reflected the media’s responsibility to inform voters and promote democratic accountability.

“Voters deserve more than campaign promises; they deserve clear answers, credible plans and an opportunity to assess those seeking their mandate.

“This debate will place issues, ideas and the future of Lagos at the centre of the electoral conversation. Our responsibility is to help citizens make informed choices based on what candidates propose and how convincingly they demonstrate their capacity to deliver,” the statement quoted the station as saying.

It also stressed the need for candidates to explain how they intended to implement their promises.

“A governorship debate is an opportunity for candidates to move beyond political rhetoric and demonstrate the substance of their vision for Lagos. Citizens need to understand not only what candidates promise, but how they intend to deliver,” the statement said.

It added that providing a fair platform for such engagement would help promote accountability and a better-informed electorate.

The consortium said all participating candidates would be subjected to the same rules, speaking times and moderation standards, with fairness, neutrality, equal opportunity and editorial independence guiding the proceedings.

It said experienced journalists would moderate the debate, which would be broadcast to national and digital audiences through the participating media organisations’ platforms.

The organisers called on Lagos residents, particularly eligible voters, young people, civil society organisations, professional groups and the business community, to follow the debate and engage with the issues and choices facing the state.