Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, has urged the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, to blacklist political candidates who refuse to participate in public debates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oyelade made the call in a statement issued from his office on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, while commending the NUJ Oyo State Council for constituting a committee to organise a public debate for political candidates.
He said the initiative would provide candidates with an opportunity to explain their programmes, answer questions and defend their promises before the electorate.
According to him, the initiative would strengthen democratic practice by promoting informed public participation and encouraging voters to make choices based on the candidates’ programmes and positions.
“What the NUJ has done is to activate one of its principal mandates as the fourth estate of the realm to excite public interest in democratic exercise,” he said.
The commissioner argued that avoiding public scrutiny while seeking electoral victory undermined the principles of democratic accountability.
He urged the NUJ to make participation in the debate mandatory for all candidates, particularly those seeking the governorship of the state.
Oyelade further proposed that any governorship candidate who failed to attend the debate should be publicly reported for refusing to subject his or her plans to scrutiny.
He said such candidates should be identified as constituting a barrier to democratic development.
The commissioner called on the NUJ to sustain the initiative and ensure that the debate provides voters with an opportunity to interrogate the policies, programmes and intentions of those seeking their votes in the 2027 elections.
E-Signed:
Prince Dotun Oyelade
Hon. Commissioner for Information, Oyo State
September 16, 2026
