By Saheed Ibrahim

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The conglomerate of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Labour Congress, and other non-partisan bodies in Ondo state has described the proposed Ondo governorship debate as a platform to enhance voters’ perception and better voting decision ahead of the October 10 poll in the state.
The group, with the name FACE THE VOTER INITIATIVE is chaired by a university scholar and veteran journalist, Dr Gbenga Abimbola while the Director of News and Current Affairs, Ondo State Radio vision Corporation (OSRC), Mrs Nike Busari is the secretary.
While addressing journalists at the NUJ Press Centre in Akure, Dr Abimbola, who revealed that the debate will hold on September 29 and October 4, said it will also promote political tolerance, constructive dialogue and selfless service to the people.
“Election debate provides a neutral platform where candidates of political parties are grilled by independent moderators on critical issues to enable the audience to compare the candidates’ positions on such issues.
“As a matter of fact, debates are often the only time during a campaign when candidates are together at the same time in the same place.
“Debates also seek to fill the gap created by the one-way communication model that characterizes campaigns whereby politicians only talk at the people without allowing people to ask questions,” the Chairman added.
Dr Abimbola said that all political parties flag bearers approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are invited to debate without preference for any of them.
He thereby solicited the support of media agencies, professional bodies and all stakeholders in the state to give the governorship debate the needed support.
Also present at the press briefing were Ondo NUJ Chairman, Mr Adetona Aderoboye, the General Manager Radio Nigeria Positive FM, Mr S. T. Abiodun, the GM Breeze FM, Mr Banjo Abitogun, the GM Nigerian Television Authority Akure, Mr Segun Ojelade, the Acting Director, National Orientation Agency Ondo State, Mrs Wumi Famuyiwa and the Chairman Nigerian Labour Congress Ondo State, Mr Sunday Adeleye.
Others were the representative of the Chairman OSRC media group Kunle Adebayo, Prince Steve Alabi, the immediate past Chairman of NBA Akure, Dan Ola and Ondo state NLC chairman, Mr Sunday Adeleye represented by Mr Omokehinde Shadi