Oseni urges candidates to release manifestos and fix debate timetable
Arise Television Morning Show anchor Rufai Oseni criticised President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and other 2027 presidential candidates - including Peter Obi - for failing to release campaign manifestos and commit to a debate schedule ahead of the election. Speaking on Wednesday's show, Oseni said the absence of manifestos and debate plans insults Nigerians and shows politicians prefer personal attacks over presenting solutions to the country's economic and security challenges. He urged parties to publish manifestos within the next week and set a clear timeline for presidential debates, citing South Korea's mandatory debate model as an example Nigeria should follow. Oseni warned that if candidates refuse to debate, they should sit at your father's house instead of seeking office, and accused both the ruling APC and opposition of falling short of public expectations despite the need for a strong opposition to balance democracy. He also questioned how candidates plan to implement promises such as petrol subsidy removal, stressing that Nigerians deserve concrete policy positions rather than excuses and political exchanges. The remarks come amid growing public demand for candidates to explain their priorities and outline how they will tackle inflation, insecurity, and other national issues before the 2027 general election. Will you insist that candidates release their manifestos and agree to a debate timetable before deciding who to support in 2027?