All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State Chapter hereby calls on the National Assembly to seriously consider further amendments to the 2010 Electoral Act to make it compulsory for gubernatorial candidates, and indeed all candidates seeking elective office in Nigeria to submit themselves for electoral debate.
It is in the view of our dynamic chapter of our great party that it is inconceivable, in this day and age, as has just been witnessed in Osun State that a gubernatorial aspirant will run away from a job interview which offers the voting populace the opportunity to mirror his mind with questions agitating their minds and appraise his competence?
What happens to those who are invited to a job interview, but fail to turn up? That is the logical thing that must happen to a gubernatorial candidate who takes the people for granted by allowing a no-show record for debates.
There is no doubt that the people of Osun State would be exposing themselves to grave risks by considering such a candidate, and there is a extended consequence for other states, as an elected governor is a member of the Counsel of States, National Economic Council and bears considerable influence outside his state.
We urge the people pf Osun State to use their votes in the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial polls to demonstrate that no candidate, not matter how pompous or arrogant can treat the people with disdain and be allowed to go Scot-free, so as to serve as a deterrent to other prospective candidates who may come to sneak into the seat of power without going though the crucible.
Once again, we condemn the act of evasion of the gubernatorial debate in Osun State by Chief Iyiola Omisore, who capacity to rise to the responsibilities of a governor, we have always doubted, but can now confirm through body language and urge the National Assembly to criminalise it, so that it can never happen anywhere else.
For: ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC), ANAMBRA STATE CHAPTER
Okelo Madukaife
State Publicity Secretary