The chairman of the political committee, Aniekan Udofia, disclosed this while briefing newsmen to unveil the official logo of the 2023 Akwa Ibom governorship debate on Thursday.
He listed the political parties to include African Alliance Congress, African Democratic Congress, Young Peoples Party, Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress and New Nigeria Peoples Party.
He said “Only six out of the 18 political parties are invited to the debate. This committee wrote a letter informing all political parties about the proposed debate, but only the shortlisted six reached out to the committee to indicate interest in participating. We cannot take any responsibility for why 12 political parties are not shortlisted.
“For months, this committee consulted with stakeholders to bring them on board under one umbrella to deliver a governorship debate on behalf of Akwa Ibom people. The governorship debate is only driven by the NUJ but is owned by many. As of today, the partners in this debate are over 20.”
He mentioned the partners to include; Nigeria Labour Congress, Nigerian Society of Engineers, National Union of Local Government Employees, Nigerian Medical Association, and Franklyn Ever Bright Farms Limited
Others include Ibom People’s Congress, USA Inc. Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA Inc. Action Aid Nigeria,
Clement Isong Foundation, Foundation for Partnership Initiative in Niger Delta, and a hosts of others.
He said that the debate would be broadcast live on 11 radio stations, six television stations and streamed live on several social media platforms for the people to hear firsthand the plans the invited governorship candidates have for the state.
