Most of the 23 candidates contesting the November 16, 2013 governorship election in Anambra State faced themselves in a television debate on Thursday at the Women Development Centre, Awka.
Each candidate tried to use the short time given to them sell themselves and their programmes to the world.
But organisers of the debate expressed disappointment with the conduct of the audience, which continuously interrupted proceedings with applauses, cheering and jeering as the candidates marshaled their points.
The chairman of the Nigeria Election Debate Group, Chief Taiwo Allimi, said Anambra had given them their worst experience since they started the debates series 10 years ago.
“This is a disappointment and a disgrace to Anambra State. It is an assault on a debate. You have disappointed Anambra State,” Allimi said, pointing out that the conduct of the audience had been watched around the world.
It took a lot of persuasion to calm the supporters of one of the candidates to give peace a chance after they were stopped from storming the debate venue.
Prominent among the participants were the candidates of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Willie Obiano; the All Progressives Congress, Senator Chris Ngige; the Labour Party, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah; the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Tony Nwoye; and the Peoples Progressive Alliance, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo.
The final of the debate will hold on Friday. The finalists will be picked from a poll conducted among the audience by the NEDG.
Punch
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