The Nigeria Election Debate Group on Wednesday in Abuja fixed February 1 and 8 for the Vice Presidential and Presidential debates respectively for the February presidential election.

The organisation, which debunked rumours that it had leaked debate questions to the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan, said 13 out of 14 political parties fielding candidates and recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, had indicated interest to take part in the debate.

While the Vice Presidential candidates debate holds on February 1 in Abuja in three sessions, Jonathan and the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and other presidential candidates will hold their debates on February 8 in Abuja also in three sessions, which will be televised live.

The Chairman, Board of trustees of NEDG and Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Mr. Sola Omole, stated this during a press briefing on the preparation for the debates.
According to him, the NEDG is a non-partisan organisation that is made up of media professionals and people of impeccable character from the civil society and had no interest on who wins the forthcoming presidential election.

He said, “As of now, I can say that 13 political parties have confirmed that they will attend the debate. We are still working on it and we still have a few days to go before the debate.

“I will like to state that the NEDG is not a partisan organisation but a collection of media people, civil society organisations and professional associations, which have an interest in ensuring that Nigerians have better, adequate and relevant information to enhance their ability to take a decision on voting day.

“As we speak, the questions that are going to be asked on the date of the debate are still being worked upon by our debate formal committee. Those questions are not ready; as I am speaking to you, the questions are not yet ready; there is still work in progress. Therefore, there is absolutely no reason why anybody will have the questions right now.”

Also speaking, a former Director-General of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria and Media Consultant to the NEDG, Chief Taiwo Alimi, said over 3,000 questions had been submitted to the website and e-mail of the group from Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora while over 70 per cent of Nigerian voters have made up their mind on who to vote for after watching previous debates.

He said, “The election debate would be issue-based and issued-driven. There will be non-participatory audience that will not clap, yell or laugh during the entire debate. There will not be any score card for the candidates.

“It is on the day of the debate, when the debate is about to go on air, that we (the NEDG) will now give the moderators and the panelists the questions they will be asking the candidates.”

Elslim:
Story for d gods... if students fit get Expo, why and how won't a presido get one

peckhamboi:
[b]
APC are not attending your useless debate if it can't be organised by a neutral body.


Sai Buhari

berem:
Obiagelli come see o! I no talk am? I say dem go give Jonathan expo.

Lolz!

Obiagelli:


Na only this debate gej attend the last time after others refuse to give him expo. We want independent debate

Obiagelli:


Na only this debate gej attend the last time after others refuse to give him expo. We want independent debate

obiZEAL:
Him go still fu:ckup...i trust GEJ...

diluminati:
Will GEJ run from this debate again? Will he be found A.W.OL?

berem:
run ke? He will be the only one to debate or rather he and D'banj will debate this time around.

diluminati:


not at all, we nor go gree! he must debate with GMB wether Amadioha likes it or not. dbanj nor get him time now, he is busy selling koko garri due to his near bankruptcy

micolaj:
Expo is not CORRUPTION-GEJ

berem:
General Buhari must not participate in the debate.

berem:
General Buhari must not participate in the debate.