By George Omagbemi Sylvester
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed calls by supporters of Peter Obi for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to participate in a live presidential debate ahead of the 2027 general election, describing the demand as unnecessary and politically motivated.
The debate campaign gained momentum after members of the New Democratic Congress (NDC) and Obi’s supporters argued that a live televised debate would give Nigerians an opportunity to assess the policies, competence and vision of presidential hopefuls before the next election.
They maintained that such debates are a hallmark of democratic accountability and would strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
Responding to the campaign, the APC said President Tinubu remains focused on governance rather than engaging in what it described as premature electioneering. Party officials insisted that the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, economic reforms, security and social investment programmes speak louder than political debates, adding that the President would continue to communicate with Nigerians through his policies and official engagements.
The ruling party also criticised Obi’s supporters for attempting to shift public attention away from governance through media campaigns, insisting that election debates should be determined by the appropriate electoral authorities and political parties at the appropriate time.
Political analysts, however, believe that public debates remain an important feature of democratic elections, providing voters with the opportunity to compare candidates’ leadership qualities, policy proposals and ability to respond to critical national issues ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
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