The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, has set the stage for what it described as the ‘Mother of All Debates’ ahead of the 2027 general elections.
This came to the fore with a formal inauguration of a five-member committee to organise debates for candidates contesting elective positions in the state.
The initiative, which is aimed at providing voters with direct access to candidates and their programmes, took off on Monday with the formal inauguration of the Political Debate Committee at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
The committee is headed by Ambassador Olayinka Agboola as Chairman, with Comrade Seye Ojo as Secretary. Other members are Comrades Soji Ajibola, Omolola Alamu and Bukola Oriowo.
The Oyo NUJ initiative is expected to bring candidates across different elective positions to a common platform where they can explain their visions, programmes and policy proposals, while responding to questions from the electorate.
Inaugurating the committee, Chairman of the Oyo NUJ Council, Comrade Akeem Abas, represented by the State Secretary, Comrade Dayo Adu, said the union was determined to provide a credible and level playing field for candidates, irrespective of their political affiliations.
He stated that the NUJ, being an apolitical professional body, was well positioned to organise a debate that would enable candidates to project their programmes and policies directly to the people of Oyo State.
“Looking at the political arena in Oyo State at the moment, it is crystal clear that NUJ stands at a very good stance to organise this political debate for all categories of candidates across different political parties that are recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” he said.
He charged the committee to ensure a hitch-free and credible process, stressing the need for strong media and strategic partnerships to give the initiative the reach and impact it deserves.
Abas also urged the committee to maintain the professional standards and neutrality of the union throughout the process, and ensure that candidates from recognised political parties are given equal opportunities to present their programmes to the electorate.
Speaking on behalf of the committee after its inauguration, Agboola thanked the leadership of the Oyo NUJ for the confidence reposed in the members by entrusting them with the responsibility.
He described the assignment as an onerous one, promising that the committee would approach it with professionalism, fairness and commitment to the interests of the people of Oyo State.
Agboola assured candidates across recognised political parties and the various levels of elective offices that the NUJ platform would provide them with unbiased publicity and visibility to communicate their programmes to the electorate. He added that time-table for the debate would be released very soon.
He said the debates would also give the people an opportunity to listen directly to candidates, ask questions and scrutinise their plans for their constituencies, senatorial districts and the state.
According to him, the initiative is not merely about giving candidates a platform to campaign, but about creating an avenue for meaningful engagement on issues affecting the people.
He said the committee would work with relevant stakeholders, media organisations and strategic partners to ensure that the debates are professionally organised, widely accessible and capable of generating issue-based discourse ahead of the 2027 elections.
The project, according to him, underscores the role of the media in strengthening democratic participation by ensuring that voters have access to relevant information about candidates before deciding who to support at the polls.
