Poll: Gov. Emmanuel, Ekere shun BBC governorship debate

The governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Governor Udom Emmanuel and the All Progressives Congress(APC), Obong Nsima Ekere, in Akwa Ibom State on Thursday, were absent in a live audience participation platform organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC). Tagged, ‘Governorship debate with BBC News Pidgin’, the exercise took place at the permanent site of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO). However, four out of the six governorship candidates invited to the programme attended. There were Iboro Otu of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), the Peoples Progressive Party, Ekong Eyo, the Young Democratic Party (YDP), Ezekiel Nya Etok and the Young People Party (YPP), Nature Udoh. Governor Udom Emmanuel through a statement from the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoh, said he could not attend the debate due to an official engagement outside the state. But no reason was given for the absence of the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Giving his general assessment of the programmee, the Editor of the BBC Pidgin Service, Adejuwon Soyinka, explained that 10 states were selected for the governorship debate expressing the hope that the governorship candidates in other states chosen will equally honour the invitation. “This is the first governorship debate organised by the BBC News Pidgin. We chose to come to Akwa Ibom because of the interesting development in politics in the state and similar debate will hold in Port Harcourt on January 21st. “It is the audience that selects the candidate and asks us to invite them for the debate of this nature. We are audience lead. A lot of things we do we listen to the audience and try to serve them with what they requested of us. “We hope that the candidates that have been invited at Rivers will honour the invitation of their people. It is an opportunity created to deepens democracy in Nigeria, create opportunity for candidates to listen, interact and meet with the people, electorate and explain to them what you want to do,” she said. On the absence of the two other candidates from the debate, Soyinka said: “I am totally indifferent. What we have done as a BBC is to create a platform for the candidates to interact with the electorate. “The candidates were chosen on the invitation of their people. Other candidates who otherwise were engaged and could not make it have given their reasons. “Ultimately, the judgment call is not for me, it is for the electorate and good people of Akwa Ibom whom this gentlemen are proposing to lead”. On his impression about the debate, he said: “I am impressed with what happened today. I am happy with the turnout of Akwa Ibom people from different segments of the society. I am happy with the engagement from the audience and online people. “I fill fulfilled that the purpose of this exercise has been achieved and the purpose is to create that platform for interaction and get responses.” he said. The governorship candidates were subjected to various forms of questions bordering on their knowledge on governance and why they want to be the governor of the state. They also answered questions on how to improve the economy, Internal Generated Revenue, health, education, agriculture, reduce unemployment, tackle insecurity, infrastructure, and environment among others. Isaac Job, Uyo