Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the November 8 governorship election and Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, was conspicuously absent from a debate for governorship contestants in the state.
The debate, held in Awka on Friday, was organised by the Creative Minds Center for Youth and Community Development in collaboration with Active Citizens Media.
Also absent were the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu; Labour Party candidate, George Muoghalu; and John Chuma Nwosu of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Others who did not attend included Japhet Nweke of the Action Alliance (AA), Chukwudubem Nweke of the Action Peoples Party (APP), and Jude Ezenwafor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
No official reason was given for their absence.
However, the convener of the event, Mr. Kelechi Oduebo, told Ikengaonline that only the AA and APP candidates communicated that they received their invitations too late to make adequate preparations to attend.
The governorship candidates who honoured the invitation were Chioma Ifemeludike of the African Action Congress (AAC), Col. Prof. Geoffrey Onyejegbu (rtd.) of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and Jerry Okeke of the BOOT Party.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of the Creative Minds Center for Youth and Community Development, Mrs. Ugochi Freeman, said the debate was designed to give citizens a platform to engage the candidates directly and assess their vision for the state.
“This is a platform for us to interface with the candidates vying for election. It’s time to hear them outline their profiles and plans for the state,” she said.
“It’s also time to ask the right questions and hold them accountable. We don’t want only political parties to decide, but the people behind the political parties as well.”
