Utomi: INEC Should Mandate Presidential Candidate To Participate In Debates- 2023

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been instructed to mandate open debate participation for presidential candidates in 2023.

This was said by Nigerian economist Professor Pat Utomi on Tuesday in Lagos during a press conference.

Utomi requested INEC to strip any presidential contender from running in the 2023 elections if they refuse to take part in a debate.

The leader of the National Consultative Front (NCF) and Convener of the Big Tent, however, called for multiple debates ahead of the forthcoming polls.

He said: “We would like to make INEC insist that anyone who cannot participate in a debate should be disqualified from that election; especially at the presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly levels.

“We should have open debates, and not one, not two, but multiple debates.”

Speaking further, Utomi also called on INEC to resume the Continous Voter Registration (CVR) until the end of October at least, saying that the suspension of the exercise could lead to the disenfranchisement of many Nigerians.

He said: “We do not think it is proper to continue to disenfranchise Nigerians with this rush to cut off registration.

“The law allows Nigerians to be able to register even until November. They should at least keep registration open until the end of October.

“We get calls from people in the Diaspora who are very upset about it, who are trying to petition even the US government, the UN, saying the Nigerian government through INEC is trying to disenfranchise Nigerians. So we would like INEC to save itself that embarrassment.”