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How We Chose Participating Parties For Presidential Debate – NEDG

Channels Television
Updated December 13, 2018

The Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) has explained how five political parties were selected to participate in the presidential and vice-presidential debates.

NEDG Executive Secretary, Eddie Emesiri, said in a statement on Thursday that the parties for the debate were picked through an independently administered multi-stage process.

The statement was issued in reaction to the criticism triggered by the number of political parties selected by the group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), organisers of the debates.

Emesiri stressed that the decision to select five parties was taken at the beginning of the process to ensure that the debates were managed effectively.

He said, “We wish to emphatically state that the NEDG and BON were not influenced or induced by anyone to include or exclude any political party from the debate.”

“We understand the disappointment of some political parties who would have wished to see their candidates share their visions for the country at the Debates.”

Read the full statement below;

Further to our earlier announcement of participating parties for the Presidential Debates, the organising partners of the Debates hereby reiterate the transparency and independence of the selection process that resulted in the five participating political parties.

Firstly, we would like to state that the Presidential Debates are organised by a partnership of the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), a broad coalition of over 100 public and private broadcasters in Nigeria with coverage of terrestrial radio, television, direct-to-home, digital terrestrial television and multimedia distribution system. The members of BON are responsible for over 250 radio and TV stations across Nigeria.

The choice of participating parties for the debate was made through an independently administered multi-stage process. The first stage was an independent online poll and the second involved the distribution of survey questionnaires per state, to professionals, artisans, students, etc; respondents were within the voting age and spread across urban, semi-urban and rural classifications. The third stage was to take an aggregate of the stage result and extend invitations to the top 5 parties for the debate.

Following our disclosure of the participating parties earlier in the week, our attention has been drawn to some reactions in the public space over the decision to limit the participation to five parties and exclusion of some party flag bearers from the debate. Considering the vast number of contending parties, the decision to limit to five parties was taken at the beginning of our process to ensure ease of management for the debates. All the stages of the selection process were focused on political parties, taking into consideration the importance of national spread and diversity. Focus was not on specific individuals or candidates.

We wish to emphatically state that the NEDG and BON were not influenced or induced by anyone to include or exclude any political party from the debate. We understand the disappointment of some political parties who would have wished to see their candidates share their visions for the country at the Debates. However, Nigerians have spoken through the multi-stage process and we urge all Nigerians to respect their choice as we abide by the outcome of the independent party selection process.

The Vice-Presidential Debate and the Presidential Debate are scheduled for Friday, December 14, 2018, and Saturday, January 19, 2019, respectively.

Eddie Emesiri
Executive Secretary
Nigeria Election Debate Group
Dateline: Abuja, December 12, 2018

chrisley:
Funny how Igbos have been swayed by the Atiku/Obi slot and loosing focus on their initial clamour for Biafra or referendum.. Everyone is unduly optimistic of Atikus victory at the polls.. No one is looking at it from other dimensions.. No one remembers the power of an incumbent president

So what happens if Atiku doesnt win? The Igbos will fall back to their Biafran cause? Isn't that laughable ?

Buhari is core military man adorned in the cloak of a civilian.. he still has that military inclinations , Buhari is a despot he might use brute to remain on the saddle.. same shit played out few months back in Osun when PDP won and it was overturned.. till date no one said a damn thing

Should Igbos heed Nnamdi Kanu's stance on voters apathy in the east and stand our ground for Biafra or referendum? Or should we keep our fingers crossed and root for Atiku/Obi....
Igbos are seemingly enmeshed in this political indecision

Can Inec be trusted? Will our votes count?

What happend in Osun is a pointer that our Inec is compromised

There should be a "pact" for power to be rotated cos even if Buhari rigs the election and holds on to power neither Hausas nor yorubas would protest cos its still favourable to them

Sometimes I feel Igbos are destined to be politically irrelavant

naptu2:
The vice presidential debate ahead of the 2019 general elections will take place today at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. The debate is being organised by the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON). It will be shown live on all BON stations (NTA, Channels TV, AIT, Silverbird TV, etc.).

You can also follow the debate by following these hashtags on social media #2019debate, #2019election and on this Twitter page https://twitter.com/NaijaDecides19/with_replies.

BON chairman, Mr John Momoh, has said that the debate will be streamed live on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

The following contestants will be taking part in today's debate.

Contestants:

1) Yemi Osinbajo (APC)

2) Peter Obi (PDP)

3) Umma Getso (YPP)

4) Alhaji Abdulganiyu Galadima (ACPN)

5) Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya (ANN)

naptu2:
https://www.channelstv.com/2018/12/13/how-we-chose-participating-parties-for-presidential-debate-nedg/?utm_source=TW&utm_medium=ChannelsTV-+AutoPoster&utm_campaign=SNAP%2Bfrom%2BChannels+Television

ikorodureporta:
Na vp dey take decision? Who talks abt Sambo today??

chrisley:
Funny how Igbos have been swayed by the Atiku/Obi slot and loosing focus on their initial clamour for Biafra or referendum.. Everyone is unduly optimistic of Atikus victory at the polls.. No one is looking at it from other dimensions.. No one remembers the power of an incumbent president

So what happens if Atiku doesnt win? The Igbos will fall back to their Biafran cause? Isn't that laughable ?

Buhari is core military man adorned in the cloak of a civilian.. he still has that military inclinations , Buhari is a despot he might use brute to remain on the saddle.. same shit played out few months back in Osun when PDP won and it was overturned.. till date no one said a damn thing

Should Igbos heed Nnamdi Kanu's stance on voters apathy in the east and stand our ground for Biafra or referendum? Or should we keep our fingers crossed and root for Atiku/Obi....
Igbos are seemingly enmeshed in this political indecision

Can Inec be trusted? Will our votes count?

What happend in Osun is a pointer that our Inec is compromised

There should be a "pact" for power to be rotated cos even if Buhari rigs the election and holds on to power neither Hausas nor yorubas would protest cos its still favourable to them

Sometimes I feel Igbos are destined to be politically irrelavant

socialmediaman:
Did they also send Buhari the questions ahead of time for Jan 19? That’s the only way he’ll attend presidential debate.

socialmediaman:
Did they also send Buhari the questions ahead of time for Jan 19? That’s the only way he’ll attend presidential debate.