‘ Candidates that mean well for Nigeria mustn’t shun debates’

SENIOR Programme Officer, Centre for Democracy and Development ( CDD), Augustine Aigba, has said candidates contesting the 2023 polls must appear for debates and town hall meetings to tell Nigerians what their vision is.

Aigbe, who spoke at a twoday capacity building for journalists and civil society organisations ( CSOS) organised by CDD, Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) and Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ), also lamented that Nigeria has weak institutions and strong men, who are mostly not held accountable.

He insisted that Nigerians have nothing to fear about conduct of the 2023 general elections since the electoral umpire would transmit results electronically.

On alleged involvement of INEC officials in rigging, Aigbe noted: said: “The people, who manipulate elections are ad hoc staff, returning officers. That does not mean that officials don’t play a role, as they use the invisible hand of demand and supply to perform those roles.”