Plateau Debate Group Holds Pre-Debate Meeting, Gets High Rating from Prospective Debaters

The Plateau Debate Group (PDG) today held a Pre-debate briefing with representatives of gubernatorial candidates invited for the 2019 Plateau Gubernatorial Debate. In attendance was Prof John Wade mni and Hon Fidelis Longban of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edwin Ringkwat and Com Friday Bako of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jesse Zwalda of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Jeremiah Davou of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Gonchen Nenfort of the All Blending Party (ABP). However, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) had no representation in the meeting. The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was represented by Habu Yohanna Yusuf and Dauda Doya Soja

Declaring the meeting open, Chairman of the PDG, Dr Daniel Meshak, said the meeting was called to intimate prospective debaters with the structure and rules of the debate and to get their input on the overall working document.

Stakeholders were excited at the content of the document but modified the manner of presentation of questions from live audience during the debate to avoid mischief makers taking advantage of the process to get at rival contestants

In separate responses, representatives of the candidates of various political parties were unanimous that the debate measures up to international standards and commended organisers for a great job

They also agreed to focus strictly on issues and avoid inflammatory utterances and hate speeches, a resolution that resonated well with representatives of the NBC