As political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, stakeholders in Ebonyi State have called on the electorate to look beyond political manifestos, slogans and personalities and critically interrogate the competence, capacity, policy proposals and track records of governorship candidates.
The stakeholders made the call at a democratic dialogue organised by the Centre for Media and Dialogue Initiative, CMDI at Monabliss Hotels and Suites, Abakaliki, with the theme, “Beyond the Manifesto: Ebonyi 2027 Election and the People’s Interrogation of Next Leadership.”
The Programme Director of the Centre, Eze Chikodiri Igwe, said the essence of the dialogue was to provide a credible, respectful and non-partisan platform where candidates could explain their programmes while citizens, the media and other stakeholders interrogated their policy choices and capacity to deliver.
Igwe said democracy required more than campaign promises, stressing that voters must demand clear explanations on how proposed policies would be implemented, the resources required and the mechanisms for measuring performance and holding elected officials accountable.
He said: “A manifesto tells us what a candidate promises. Democracy, however, requires us to go further and ask: What is the problem? What is the proposed solution? How will it be delivered? What resources will it require? What priorities will guide the choices? How will citizens measure performance? And what mechanisms will make leadership accountable to the people?”
According to him, the objective of the initiative was not to endorse any candidate or political party, but to move electoral discourse “from political promises to public policy; from slogans to substance; from personalities to capacity; and from campaign rhetoric to measurable commitments.”
He added that the electorate had the right to ask questions, candidates had the responsibility to provide answers, while the media had a duty to interrogate claims and provide citizens with credible information to enable them make informed choices.
“Ultimately, the objective of this programme is to help create a better-informed electorate and a more substantive electoral conversation ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are not here to tell Ebonyi what choice to make. We are here to strengthen the quality of the questions that must precede that choice,” Igwe said.
He maintained that an election was not merely about choosing who would occupy an office, but about deciding who would be entrusted with the hopes, resources, security and future of the people.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel, Ebonyi State Council, Comrade Uchenna Inya, said journalists had a responsibility to set the agenda for public discourse and ensure that the electorate was adequately informed about candidates and their programmes.
Inya said the media must interrogate candidates on what they intended to offer the people, how they planned to implement their policies and what mechanisms would be deployed to address critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, security and the economy.
He stressed that journalists were not partisan actors in the electoral process, but professional stakeholders whose responsibility was to report issues accurately and allow citizens to make informed choices.
“Our duty is to keep the public informed, educated and focused on a people-centred agenda,” Inya said, adding that the media would continue to report electoral issues based on facts while advocating a peaceful, free and credible process.
He urged political actors and their supporters to eschew violence and allow the electorate to freely exercise their democratic rights.
Representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the event, Mrs Esther Idam, described citizens as critical stakeholders in the electoral process and urged registered voters to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the elections.
Idam also cautioned voters and political actors against misinformation and fake news, urging citizens to verify information before sharing it on social media platforms.
She warned youths against allowing themselves to be used to perpetrate electoral violence, stressing that a peaceful environment was essential for credible participation.
According to her, voters should familiarise themselves with their designated polling units and comply with electoral guidelines rather than resort to confrontation when difficulties arise.
She further emphasised the need for political parties, candidates, agents and voters to understand the rules governing accreditation, voting and the collation process.
The INEC representative also reiterated the commission’s commitment to an inclusive electoral process, noting that women, youths and persons living with disabilities were important participants in the democratic process.
The dialogue attracted candidates and representatives of various political parties, including the Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who participated in discussions on the quality of leadership required in Ebonyi and the expectations of voters ahead of the 2027 elections.
The participants were given opportunities to ask questions and seek clarification from electoral officials and political stakeholders on issues relating to voter participation, electoral procedures, accountability and the delivery of campaign promises.
The organisers said the initiative was designed to strengthen citizen participation and ensure that the 2027 electoral conversation was anchored on issues, competence, evidence and accountability rather than personality-driven politics.
