By Ade Oyeyemi
Five Nigerian media organisations have announced November 8, 2026, for a governorship debate featuring candidates contesting the 2027 Lagos State election.
The debate, organised under the Nigeria Debate Consortium, will hold at 7pm at The Hub by IALA, House of His Glory, in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The consortium comprises Channels Television, TVC News, The PUNCH, TheCable and Vanguard Newspaper. It said the Lagos engagement would kick off a series of debates planned for selected battleground states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to a statement made available to The PUNCH on Sunday, the exercise is designed to provide candidates with an opportunity to present their manifestoes, explain their policy positions and address questions on issues affecting residents of the state.
The debate will focus on critical sectors, including transportation, infrastructure, security, housing, education, healthcare, employment generation and economic development.
The organisers said participating candidates would be subjected to identical rules, speaking periods and moderation standards to guarantee fairness, neutrality and equal opportunities.
Experienced journalists are expected to moderate the session, which will also be broadcast to national and online audiences through the platforms of the participating media organisations.
The consortium urged Lagos residents, particularly eligible voters, young people, civil society organisations, professional associations and members of the business community, to follow the debate and participate in the electoral conversation.
Among the prominent contenders expected to face voters’ scrutiny are the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat; the African Democratic Congress candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour; and the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Funso Doherty.
Hamzat, who is currently the state’s deputy governor, has outlined plans to improve infrastructure, strengthen security through state policing, tackle flooding and address housing and waste management challenges.
Rhodes-Vivour, on his part, has promised to provide affordable housing and establish mechanisms for residents to report alleged intimidation by police officers and political thugs.
Doherty has also pledged to make education and healthcare accessible at no cost within his first 100 days in office if elected governor in 2027.
The consortium said the debate would form part of a broader electoral engagement programme expected to culminate in a presidential debate and town hall meeting ahead of the 2027 polls.
