The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Anugbum Onuoha, has declared his full support for the upcoming Akwa Ibom 2027 Election Debate organized by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), promising to attend the event in person.
Prof. Onuoha stated this when he received the Akwa Ibom 2027 Election Debate Planning Committee, led by its Chairman, Comrade Ndanti Ekuh, at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Uyo.
Describing the initiative as a laudable step toward deepening democratic accountability, the REC noted that although many Nigerian politicians historically shy away from public debates, a neutral platform is critical for evaluating those seeking elective office.
“From the first day I heard about the debate, I was very interested and impressed that the NUJ is putting up such a laudable initiative to help voters make good choices at the polls,” Onuoha said. “Those contesting for elective positions must be given a neutral platform to tell the people what they plan to do, and those running for a second term must give an account of what they achieved during their first term.”
The Electoral Commissioner, who was joined during the visit by his Rivers State counterpart, charged the organizers to ensure that the event does not become an “elitist gathering” centered strictly on the state capital, Uyo. He cautioned that over-focusing on urban elites—who statistically show lower voting turnout—could defeat the primary purpose of the exercise.
“Do everything possible to make sure that the debate is not an elitist event that starts and ends in Uyo. Most of these elites hardly come out to vote or mobilize their people to collect PVCs,” Onuoha warned. “Let all voters, including those in the rural areas and interior villages, have the opportunity to listen to those seeking their votes so they can make informed personal decisions.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Debate Planning Committee, Comrade Ndanti Ekuh, stated that the visit was part of ongoing strategic consultations with key institutions in the electoral ecosystem, assuring the REC that the NUJ remains strictly non-partisan, will provide a level playing field for all political candidates, and has already received signed participation forms from several candidates.
According to the committee chairman, the debate will feature extensive multimedia coverage, including live broadcasts across national and local television channels, radio stations, and major digital media platforms to guarantee wide reach across rural and urban communities.
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