The Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition of five Nigerian media organisations, will kick off its series of debates ahead of the 2027 general elections with the Lagos governorship debate scheduled for Sunday, November 8.
The debate, which is expected to begin at 7pm, will take place at The Hub by IALA, House of His Glory, Plot 18, Providence Road, Marwa, Lekki, Lagos.
The consortium comprises Channels Television, TVC News, Punch Newspaper, TheCable and Vanguard Newspaper.
In a statement announcing the event, the organisers said the debate would provide governorship candidates with an opportunity to present their programmes, defend their policy positions and address critical issues affecting residents of Lagos State.
Key areas of discussion will include transportation, infrastructure, security, housing, education, healthcare, job creation and economic growth.
According to the consortium, the initiative is aimed at helping voters evaluate the candidates’ priorities, policy proposals and preparedness to govern ahead of the 2027 election.
Channels Television described the debate as part of the media’s responsibility to promote informed electoral choices and strengthen democratic accountability.
“Voters deserve more than campaign promises; they deserve clear answers, credible plans and an opportunity to assess those seeking their mandate,” the organisation said.
It added that the debate would place “issues, ideas and the future of Lagos at the centre of the electoral conversation”.
Similarly, TVC News emphasised the importance of issue-based discussions, noting that candidates must demonstrate how they intend to translate campaign promises into practical policies.
“A governorship debate is an opportunity for candidates to move beyond political rhetoric and demonstrate the substance of their vision for Lagos,” the consortium quoted the organisation as saying.
The organisers assured that the debate would be conducted in line with principles of fairness, neutrality, equal opportunity and editorial independence.
They added that all participating candidates would be subject to the same rules, speaking time and moderation standards to ensure a level playing field.
The event will be moderated by experienced journalists and broadcast to national and digital audiences through the platforms of the participating media organisations.
The consortium also urged Lagos residents, particularly eligible voters, young people, civil society organisations, professional groups and members of the business community, to follow the debate and engage with issues shaping the state’s future.
The Lagos governorship debate will mark the beginning of the consortium’s planned series of engagements in selected battleground states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The initiative is expected to culminate in a presidential debate and town hall, providing voters with further opportunities to assess candidates and their policy proposals.
Among the prominent contenders for the Lagos governorship seat are Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
