The 2027 governorship contest in Akwa Ibom State is set to move beyond campaign rallies and political statements, as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) prepares to bring the major contenders before the public for direct questioning on their plans for the state.
Governor Umo Eno of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the other four governorship candidates listed for the contest have indicated their willingness to participate in the debate scheduled for December 9 at the NUJ Press Centre, Uyo.
The debate, planned as part of a three-day election engagement from December 9 to 11, is being backed by a coalition that includes the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), University of Uyo, YIAGA Africa, Enough is Enough Nigeria, PIND Foundation, Clement Isong Foundation, Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom (COOPA) and other civic and development organisations.
Rather than leaving voters to assess candidates through campaign promises and political advertisements, the organisers said the initiative is intended to create an avenue where the contenders can explain their programmes and respond to questions on issues directly affecting residents.
Chairman of the Debate Planning Committee, Ndanti Ekuh, said the partnership with CJID would bring additional technical and professional expertise to the process and help strengthen the credibility and objectivity of the engagement.
CJID Chief Executive Officer, Dapo Olorunyomi, was also quoted as saying the collaboration would combine the professional capacities of the organisations involved to produce a factual engagement across the different categories of the debate.
The development is significant against the background of the 2023 governorship election, when some major contenders did not participate in the NUJ-backed debate. The 2027 exercise therefore presents another opportunity for the media body and its partners to put the candidates on a common platform before the electorate.
The candidates expected at the December 9 session are Eno, John James Akpanudoedehe of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Michael Bush of the Labour Party (LP), Samuel Coffie Emeni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Jeremiah Akpan of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA). Current published candidate listings identify the same five names for the Akwa Ibom governorship race.
For the incumbent, the debate will provide a public forum to explain the direction of his proposed second-term programme, including the ARISE 2.0 agenda, while his challengers will have the opportunity to put forward their alternatives.
One of the issues expected to attract close attention is the Ibom Deep Sea Port, which successive administrations and political actors have presented as a potential driver of large-scale economic activity in the state. The state government’s project information currently places the port at the Full Business Case and procurement stage, following preliminary technical and environmental work.
Employment, particularly opportunities for young people, is another issue likely to feature prominently, alongside education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, industrialisation, security and management of public resources.
The debate’s multi-sector backing also means that questions are likely to extend beyond conventional campaign rhetoric to areas requiring specific explanations on funding, implementation timelines, measurable targets and accountability.
The University of Uyo’s participation is expected to provide an academic dimension to the exercise, while the involvement of civic and development organisations is intended to broaden the range of issues presented to the candidates and the electorate.
The NUJ has said invitations to candidates and stakeholders will commence on October 1, signalling the beginning of the final phase of preparations for the December engagement.
With the governorship candidates scheduled to appear together on December 9, the focus of the 2027 race in Akwa Ibom could increasingly shift from who is making promises to what each contender is prepared to put on record before voters.
