2027: Eno, other Akwa Ibom governorship candidates billed for NUJ-led debate

Governor Umo Eno and other governorship candidates in Akwa Ibom State have indicated their willingness to participate in an election debate being organised by the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

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The debate has attracted the support of several media, civic, academic and development organisations, including the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), University of Uyo, YIAGA Africa, Enough is Enough Nigeria, PIND Foundation, Clement Isong Foundation, Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom (COOPA), Akwa Ibom Decides and Governor Amunike (Kevin Black).

The growing partnership is expected to provide technical, professional, academic, and civic support for the debate and widen public participation in the exercise.

The debate is scheduled for 9 to 11 December at the NUJ Press Centre in Uyo, with the governorship candidates expected to take the stage on December 9.

Candidates for other elective positions are expected to participate in subsequent sessions.

The NUJ said the exercise is designed to give candidates a platform to present their policies, programmes, and development plans directly to voters, while allowing the electorate to scrutinise their positions on issues affecting the state.

The Nation newspaper, citing the NUJ Chairman in Akwa Ibom, Nsibiet John, reported that Mr Eno and other governorship candidates had expressed willingness to attend the debate.

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Announcing the CJID partnership on Monday in Uyo, the Chairman of the Debate Planning Committee, Ndanti Ekuh, said the collaboration would strengthen the credibility, objectivity and professionalism of the exercise.

Mr Ekuh said the committee wanted the debate to provide a fair platform for candidates and ensure that voters receive useful information about their programmes before the election.

According to the committee, CJID Chief Executive Officer, Dapo Olorunyomi, said the partnership would combine the technical and professional expertise of both organisations to deliver a credible and factual engagement across the various categories of the debate.

The Clement Isong Foundation, another partner, describes itself as a youth-led public policy organisation focused on civic engagement, policy reforms, economic research, climate action, social justice, education and institutional strengthening. Its involvement adds a policy and civic-engagement dimension to the initiative.

The University of Uyo’s involvement is also expected to contribute academic perspectives to the exercise. Its Vice Chancellor, Christopher Ekong, said the university’s participation could strengthen political awareness, public participation and accountability ahead of the election.

Candidates

Apart from Mr Eno of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the other candidates are John Akpanudoedehe of the African Democratic Congress, Michael Bush of the Labour Party, Samuel Coffie of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Jeremiah Akpan of the Democratic Leadership Alliance.

Mr Eno won the 2023 governorship election on the platform of the PDP but later defected to the APC. He subsequently emerged as the APC candidate for the 2027 election and has proposed an ARISE 2.0 agenda for a possible second term. He has also publicly said he is ready to participate in political debates ahead of the election.

For the candidates, the debate provides an opportunity to address major questions about the state’s economic direction, infrastructure, employment, healthcare, education, agriculture, security and investment.

One issue likely to attract attention is the yet-to-be-realised Ibom Deep Sea Port, which has featured prominently in discussions about Akwa Ibom’s economic future.

The state government’s project status says the federal government has approved the port project and that land acquisition, environmental assessment and preliminary technical studies have been completed. The project is currently listed as being at the Full Business Case and procurement stage.

Mr Eno’s administration has made the port one of its major economic priorities.

In April, the governor said his administration had funded a feasibility study, prepared investor documentation, constructed an access road and undertaken geophysical and geotechnical studies.

In June, Mr Eno led a technical engagement with Africa Global Logistics in Paris, where the recently completed technical feasibility report was reviewed and discussions held on investment, implementation and the project’s long-term sustainability.

The governor called for clear timelines and defined milestones to move the project from planning towards execution.

Employment is another issue likely to feature prominently during the debate, particularly given the state’s young population and the importance attached to large-scale investments as a means of expanding economic opportunities.

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The figures provide a backdrop for questions about how the candidates intend to create productive jobs, attract private investment and expand opportunities for young people.

Beyond employment and the seaport, the candidates are expected to face questions on education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, security, industrialisation and the management of public resources.

The growing number of organisations involved in the debate also places greater attention on issues of fairness, neutrality, candidate participation and the credibility of the questions and answers presented to voters.

Mr Ekuh said invitations to candidates and stakeholders would commence on 1 October, marking the next phase of preparations for the debate.