2027: Brainbox Orgazi calls on Umuaka Times to organize debates for Orlu Zone candidates.

The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Njaba Local Government Area State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Obinna Orgazi, popularly known as “Brainbox,” has appealed to Umuaka Times Communications, publishers of Umuaka Times online newspaper, to organize public political debates among candidates contesting various elective positions across Orlu Senatorial Zone. Hon. Orgazi made the appeal during an exclusive interview with Umuaka Times local affairs correspondents who visited him in the middle of last week. The NDC candidate called for debates involving contestants for the Njaba State House of Assembly seat, Njaba Local Government chairmanship, the Federal House of Representatives seat covering Nkwerre, Nwangele, Isu and Njaba Local Government Areas, as well as candidates contesting the Orlu Senatorial Zone seat.

According to him, an independently organized debate by a media organization such as Umuaka Times would provide an important platform for candidates to present their manifestoes, explain their programs and interact directly with the electorate. He said such an arrangement would also give candidates the opportunity to defend their policies before the people who would ultimately decide their political fate at the polls.

Orgazi expressed concern that political debates have not become a mandatory constitutional requirement for persons seeking elective public offices in Nigeria, arguing that voters deserve the opportunity to hear candidates explain their plans before making their choices, he maintained that debates could contribute significantly to improving the quality of political participation and voter education in the country.

The youthful politician explained that when candidates appear together and respond to similar questions, voters are better positioned to compare their competence, experience, ideas and proposed solutions to the problems confronting their constituencies.

“Debates will provide opportunities for contestants to showcase their manifestoes and defend their programs before the electorate,” he said, stressing that candidates should be prepared to explain not only what they intend to accomplish but also how they intend to accomplish it.

The NDC candidate further argued that debates would enable politicians to demonstrate their knowledge of governance and their understanding of critical issues including the economy, security, education, healthcare, infrastructure and community development.

As the interview progressed, Orgazi told Umuaka Times that a politician’s ability to communicate ideas clearly is also an important leadership quality, particularly because elected officials must constantly communicate with citizens and other stakeholders. Orgazi said public debates could equally strengthen confidence and trust between politicians and voters because candidates who willingly subject themselves to public questioning demonstrate a measure of transparency and accountability. He added that debates could expose weaknesses in political proposals by forcing contestants to explain whether their promises were realistic, achievable and financially sustainable.

The NDC candidate also identified debates as an avenue through which candidates could respond to misinformation, rumours and inaccurate claims concerning their records, programs or political positions. According to him, debates would further allow voters to observe how politicians behave under pressure, particularly when confronted with difficult questions, criticism or opposing viewpoints. He stressed that such encounters could help move political campaigns away from excessive emphasis on personalities, slogans, money, ethnicity and other considerations, towards policies, programs, competence and ideas.

Orgazi also believes that debates could encourage greater voter participation by making elections more informative and issue-driven. He maintained that democracy should not be limited to politicians asking citizens for their votes, but should also involve candidates explaining clearly what they intend to do with the mandate they are seeking. He therefore appealed to political parties, traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organizations, religious leaders, youth organizations, professional groups and other stakeholders across Orlu Senatorial Zone to support the idea of an open political debate. He called on other candidates to embrace the proposal, insisting that the ultimate beneficiaries would be the electorate, who would have an opportunity to make more informed choices at the polls.

Orgazi finally appealed to Umuaka Times Communications, the publishers of Umuaka Times newspaper to take up the challenge of providing an independent platform where candidates can face the electorate, answer questions and defend their manifestoes.