The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Anambra State has called on Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to stop a private television station from organizing its planned election debate ahead the November 18 governorship poll.
The council, made up of 37 registered political parties, said the call was informed by the selective invitations sent out to only four of the 37 governorship candidates by the media house.
Briefing newsmen in Awka yesterday, the Anambra State Chairman of IPAC, Chief Bartho Igwedibia, said the council was disturbed by the obvious negative impact the development would have on the election.
“We have seen a public announcement in Channels Television about Anambra State governorship debate and the calls other parties are getting from within and outside the country is very worrisome.
“The stoppage of the debate by Channels TV is because the programme is meant to give undue advantage to the four candidates against the other 33 candidates who were equally certified for the election by INEC.
“Anambra IPAC seriously thinks that such a thing is not supposed to happen because it is an unfair political treatment of other parties.
“It is false that only PDP, UPP, APC and APGA are fielding governorship candidates in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra. We see this debate as a sign of rigging; if it has good intention, why must it be these four candidates only?” he asked.
(Source: Daily Trust, Nov. 8, 2017)
