Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Sen. Andy Uba on Friday night failed to join other candidates to defend their manifestos.
A socio-political group, Kwechiri Unity Forum in conjunction with Rise TV had held the debate for all the 18 governorship candidates in the state, for the November 6 election, to present their programmes to the people.
The debate, titled: “2021 Anambra Governorship Election: Face the Voters”, was attended by only five candidates.
Those in attendance were candidates of; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Mr Valentine Ozigbo, Accord; Dr. Godwin Maduka, Action Alliance (AA); Chief Ben Etiaba, African Democratic Congress (ADC); Dr. Akachukwu Nwankpo and Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Col. Geoffrey Onyejegbu.
Other candidates who shunned the debate include; Dr. Obiora Okonkwo of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Dr. Obiora Agbasimalo of Labour Party, Sen. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah of Young Progressive Party (YPP), among others.
Arise TV presented and former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati who anchored the programme alongside two panelists grilled the candidates on their manifestos.
The governorship candidates in attendance took the opportunity to speak on their intended programmes which dwelt on leadership, economy, agriculture, health, education, infrastructure, security, among others.
A co-convener, of Kwechiri Unity Forum, Mr Emmanuel Obieze who spoke to THE RAZOR NEWS said invitations were sent to all the candidates, and the group ensured that they personally received and acknowledged their invitations.
“I don’t know why they did not attend. We invited all the candidates. The idea was to give them the opportunity to defend their manifestos before Anambra people.
“I would not like to say they are afraid of facing Anambra people to explain their manifestos, or to say that they do not have any, because they did not state the reason for their being absent,” Obieze said.
