Ekiti 2014: Fayose declines participation in group’s debate for candidates

Ahead of the Ekiti state governorship election that comes up on Saturday. June 21st, the coalition of young Nigerians promoting good governance and citizen engagement, Enough is Enough Nigeria (EiE Nigeria), will host a live televised debate with the leading candidates on Sunday, June 1st, in Ado Ekiti, the state capital. The Chief Executive Officer for (EiE Nigeria), Ms. Yemi Adamolekun, said in a release Friday in Lagos that of the 18 candidates vying for the position of Governor, only the four leading candidates were invited to participate in the debate, and this zero down to incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi, of the All Progressives Congress (APC); former governor, Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party (LP); and the Accord Party flagbearer, Kole Ajayi. All the candidates accepted to participate, according to Ms. Adamolekun, except Mr. Fayose of PDP who she said, “declined to participate in the debate,” adding however that the participating candidates are expected to articulate their plans for Ekiti youth with special focus on education, security, power supply and employment/enterprise. Four years ago, the group created the RSVP (Register| Select|Vote|Protect) Campaign to leverage technology, especially social media, to mobilize significant participation from citizens in the 18-35-age bloc. Enough is Enough Nigeria started the tradition of hosting youth-focused debates in 2011, when it co- hosted the first youth-focused presidential debate in the country. It has also hosted governorship debates in Cross River and Anambra (in partnership with Channels TV). The Ekiti debate is hosted in partnership with three television stations, the local EKTV, and NTA Ekiti both in the state and the Lagos based satellite station, TVC.[Nigerian Tribune]