Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG) and Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) have announced the dates for 2019 presidential and vice-presidential election debate.
The vice-presidential candidate debate has been scheduled for Friday, December 14, 2018, while the presidential debate will take place on Saturday, January 19, 2019.
Chairman of BON, John Momoh (OON), made the announcement on Thursday at a press conference in Abuja.
Momoh, also the Chairman/CEO of Channels Media Group, revealed that the debates will be aired on all BON member radio and television stations across the country and also streamed on social media platforms.
“The Nigerian Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria are organising a presidential debate on December the 14th, 2018 and a vice presidential debate on January the 19th, 2019,” Momoh said.
“The debates will hold at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja and will be broadcast live on all BON member radio and television stations across the country.”
“The debates will also be streamed live on all mobile and social media platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, Twitter And Instagram, to give it a global coverage,” Momoh said.
Momoh also said the NEDG will also set the formats and rules of the debate which he said would focus on issues bothering Nigerians.
According to him, “The Nigerian Election Debate Group would set the format and rules of the debate, handle moderation, outline the criteria for political party participation, ensure the objectivity of audiences and steer negotiations between broadcasters and the parties.”
“Nigerians expect the leaders of all political parties to be challenged in a very public and robust way in these debates. not just one of them, but a series of them,” Momoh said.