Abia Debate Group has cancelled the planned debate where the candidates in the upcoming March 27, 2021 Aba North/South Federal Constituency bye-election were scheduled to appear before the candidates to sell their manifesto.
The cancellation according to the group is not unconnected with the inability of the candidates of the PDP in the election, Chimaobi Ebisike and his APGA counterpart, Destiny Akaraka Nwagwu to confirm their presence.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate Honorable Mascot Uzor Kalu and the AA Candidate Dr. Okey Prestige had indicated readiness to appear for the debate.
Angered by the development, Hon. Mascot Uzor Kalu had expressed displeasure over the failure of his fellow contestants to appear before the people to tell them what they can offer.
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In a statement issued on Tuesday by Emenike Jason Iroegbu on behalf of the group he said, “1. The Abia State Debate Team is made up of Radio stations and prominent online platforms based in Abia State.
“2. The group in 2019 organized the biggest gubernatorial debate ever in Abia State.
“3. The group saw the need for Aba people to hear directly from the candidates of different political parties contesting for the 27th March 2021 bye election in Aba North/South federal constituency.
“4. We had Flo Fm, Reel Fm, Vision Africa Radio all ready for a simulcast and prominent online platforms ready to stream the debate live with a target audience of over 1 million listeners and viewers.
“5. We believed that via this debate Aba people would have been able to rate the capacity of the candidates and decide the person capable enough to represent them.
“6. The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate Honorable Mascot Uzor Kalu and the AA Candidate Dr. Okey Prestige accepted the challenge, but the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Honorable Chimaobi Ebisike and the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate Honorable Destiny Akaraka Nwagwa did not. All effort made to reach out to them failed.
“7. Based on the above, we are cancelling the debate and we are equally apologizing to ndi Aba and Abians for the lost opportunity to hear directly from the candidates.
“8. It is important to emphasize that until politicians begin to subject themselves to public scrutiny, delivering of dividends of democracy may still be wishful thinking.
“Thank you and God bless”.
