- The Edo Salvation Group urges candidates to take the upcoming governorship debate seriously, emphasizing the importance of discussing state resources
- ESG calls for voters to evaluate candidates based on substantive ideas, warning that those who boycott the debate should be rejected
The Edo Salvation Group (ESG) has urged voters and the main political candidates in the upcoming Edo State governorship election on September 21 to take the planned governorship debate seriously. In a statement released on Friday, August 30, 2024, the group emphasized that the state’s resources and future are important topics that should be addressed during the debate, which is scheduled for September 15, 2024.
In the statement by Imman Ekpe, the national coordinator of ESG, the debate is described as a crucial test to determine which candidate is most qualified to lead Edo State for the next four years. “We commend the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Edo State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists for collaborating to organize this debate before the election on September 21,” Ekpe noted.
The ESG believes that the debate provides a critical platform for candidates to share their visions for the state and has encouraged the public to approach it seriously. The group specifically called on the three major candidates—Senator Monday Okpebhello of the APC, Mr. Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party—to actively participate and present their plans for governing Edo State.
While urging candidates not to miss this opportunity, the ESG also called on voters to evaluate the candidates based on the substance of their ideas and not just their speaking skills. “Voters should boycott any candidate who boycotts this debate,” the group concluded.