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The chairman of the Impartial Nationwide Election Fee, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has mentioned that the fee lacked the facility to drive any electoral candidate to attend a debate.
Yakubu made this recognized on Thursday through the quarterly consultative assembly with media executives in Abuja.
In keeping with Yakubu, debates are democratic rights and can’t be compelled on any candidate, including that there have been, nonetheless, “unstated penalties” for individuals who didn’t attend, Guardian reported.
He mentioned, “I’m not certain we are able to compel somebody to attend the talk. You can’t try this. Even in most superior nations, you may’t compel somebody to do something in a democracy. Debate, similar to voting, is a democratic proper. We all know debates are to make residents be higher knowledgeable.
“Nonetheless, there’s an unstated consequence for candidates not collaborating. I additionally perceive that some candidates want to not attend to be able to keep away from making errors that will drive voters from them.
“We’re, nonetheless, pleased with the job the election debate group is doing. The trouble of the media on this side needs to be supported, however they need to even be non-partisan.
“Many political events have come to complain to us that they aren’t invited to debate. In 2019, we have now over 70 presidential candidates and now we have now 18.
“I do know it will likely be troublesome to take all around the alongside however we must always attempt to accommodate them.”
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