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NUJ Akwa Ibom will hold the exercise from December 9–11, 2026, at the NUJ Press Centre, Uyo.
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The opening session on December 9 will feature governorship candidates.
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Candidates for other elective positions will participate, culminating in the Senatorial debate on December 11.
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Candidates will face questions on policies, competence and issues affecting Akwa Ibom residents. The Council says the debate will be conducted without bias or prejudice.
August 18, (THEWILL) — The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, has announced plans to host a three-day multi-party political debate for candidates contesting elective positions in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The debate, scheduled for December 9 to 11, 2026, will be held at the NUJ Press Centre, Uyo, with the governorship contest taking centre stage on the opening day.
The initiative gives candidates from all political parties a platform to present their programmes, policies, and development plans directly to the people, while helping voters assess their competence and readiness for public office.
Announcing the initiative in Uyo on Tuesday, Chairman of the NUJ Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Nsibiet John, said the exercise would go beyond governorship candidates to include aspirants seeking other elective positions.
He said the decision reflected the responsibility of the media to promote accountability and provide citizens with credible information to guide their electoral choices.
According to him, the media has a duty to set an agenda around issues affecting the majority of the people and ensure that political office seekers clearly communicate their intentions to the electorate.
John assured that the debate would be conducted without bias or prejudice, stressing that the NUJ would protect the integrity of the journalism profession throughout the exercise.
He added that the platform would provide residents of Akwa Ibom with an opportunity to engage directly with candidates on issues concerning the development of the state, and assess their understanding of the challenges confronting the people.
The NUJ chairman recalled that a similar debate was organised ahead of the 2023 general elections under the leadership of former Council Chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk, with Comrade Aniekan Udofia heading the debate committee.
The Chairman of the 2026 Debate Committee, Comrade Ndanti Ekuh, said the three-day programme would begin with the governorship debate on Wednesday, December 9.
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He explained that subsequent sessions would feature candidates for other elective positions, with the programme culminating in the Senatorial debate on Friday, December 11.
Ekuh said the expanded format was designed to enable voters to scrutinise candidates seeking representation at different levels of government.
He added that the committee would focus the debates on issues of direct relevance to the people, giving candidates the opportunity to articulate their positions and respond to questions that would help voters evaluate their programmes, competence and understanding of the state’s development needs.
