Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dọtun Oyelade, Wednesday tasked the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state to blacklist any of the candidates that dodged public debate for political candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Prince Oyelade gave the task in a statement to commend the Oyo NUJ for constituting a committee to organise a public debate for political candidates.
The Commissioner maintained that by providing an atmosphere for candidates to field questions on their intentions and in defence of their promises to the people, the NUJ Oyo State Council was fostering the ideals of democracy and extending the barriers of good governance through the choices of credible candidates.
“What the NUJ has done is to activate one of its principal mandates as the forth estate of the realm to excite public interest in democratic exercise” he said.
Prince Oyelade added, “It is a circumvention of democratic tenet for anyone to believe that he can ride on the emotions of the masses, avoid the discomfort of a debate and get victory through the back door”.
The Commissioner urged the Oyo state NUJ council to make it mandatory for all candidates, particularly the gubernatorial candidates, to submit themselves to the scrutiny of the debate and allow the public to choose wisely,
Prince Oyelade said any gubernatorial candidate who defaults by being absent at the public debate must not only be reported to the court of public opinion but also be labelled as a barrier to democratic development.
