By Milcah Tanimu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Rayyanu Hussaini, and his counterpart from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Nasiru Liti (Mai Chanji), skipped a debate organized for candidates ahead of the October 19 Local Government Chairmen elections in Kaduna State.
The debate, hosted by the Kaduna South Local Government Concerned Citizens group, aimed to provide a platform for candidates to share their programs and agendas with the public. Despite prior notification, both major party candidates did not attend the event held on Wednesday.
Yusuf Pama, the group convener, addressed the press after the debate, which only saw attendance from Major Yahaya Shinko (Rtd) of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP). Pama highlighted the significance of allowing constituents to know their potential representatives ahead of Election Day for informed decision-making.
He cautioned voters against accepting gifts from politicians, emphasizing that those who fail to present their plans to the public demonstrate a lack of commitment to serving the people. “Those that didn’t come are simply telling us that they are not for the people. If they want the people to vote for them and did not come to explain what they plan to do, it means they are not for the people,” Pama stated.
Shinko echoed Pama’s sentiments, noting that only the PRP candidate attended the debate, underscoring that stakeholders present are the ones who will ultimately vote for their chosen candidate. He remarked that the absence of other candidates at the debate indicated a lack of interest in the upcoming elections.
Efforts to contact other political parties for the debate yielded no responses, leaving only the PRP candidate in attendance.
