The proposed presidential debate planned by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and scheduled for Abuja Tuesday has been cancelled.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NESG, Laoye Laiyeola, announced the cancellation in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Jaiyeola said crowded recent engagements of the presidential candidates and statements from political parties caused the cancellation.
She said in subsequent times, the NESG would seek independent direct engagements with the candidates on critical economic policy reform issues and prescriptions.
“We envision a Nigeria where election debates are an integral part of the electoral process, and candidates are eager to engage citizens in discussions about their mandates, experience, ability, capacity knowledge among others,” Jaiyeola said.
According to the NESG CEO, the group was convinced that debates were essential part of election process and were increasingly regarded as the bedrock of a healthy democracy.
Jaiyeola said debates shows fundamental principles which ensure that citizens were informed and actively involved in leadership choices and decision-making.
“At this critical time in our country’s history, it is now more important than ever to encourage Nigerians towards informed voting choices that result in transformational leaders,’’ she added.
The NESG and the Nigerian Elections Debate Group (NEDG), facilitated by the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Enough is Enough (EiE), BudgIT as well as Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) organized the botched debate.
