AKURE – The gubernatorial candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for Ondo State off-circle gubernatorial election, Olugbenga Edema, has condensed the gubernatorial candidates of All Progressives Congress(APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State for shunning the debate held in Benin City, Edo State capital on weekend.
Condemning the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and the PDP candidate, Dr. Ighodalo Asue, the Ondo NNPP candidate described the absence of the duo as an affront and disrespect to the electorate in Edo State.
He noted that the actions of the candidates had deprived the people of the state of the opportunity to assess the manifestos of APC and PDP which they have for the people of the state.
Speaking through Olugbenga Edema Campaign Organisation, the former representative of Ondo State on Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) Board, noted that the candidates deliberately ignored the debate organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Edo State Council in connection with the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) to prevent the people of evaluating policies and visions flaunted by the APC and the PDP.
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According to a statement by the spokesperson of the campaign organisation, Oluwatosin Ayeni, the NNPP candidate said: “It is unacceptable for candidates who aspire to lead our states to avoid direct engagement with the people they wish to govern.
“The electorate deserves to hear directly from the candidates about their visions and plans for the future. By not presenting their policies and ideas, they (APC and PDP candidates) are dismissing the intelligence of the electorate.
“PDP and APC do not deserve the votes of the people. It is time for a more responsive and responsible party to take the reins of governance. The NNPP represents a new vision that prioritises the needs and aspirations of the people.
“The people of Ondo deserve to know what candidates have in store for them. Our state’s future should not be left to chance or to those who are unwilling to engage with the public.
“Let us stand together and ensure that our voices are heard loud and clear at the polls.”
