Hamzat, Rhodes-Vivour, Doherty to face off in Lagos governorship debate today
The 2027 Lagos governorship race will take centre stage today as leading contenders prepare to present their policy positions at a debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium ahead of next year’s general elections.
Among the major contenders expected at the debate are Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat; Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); and Funso Doherty of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The debate is scheduled to commence at 7 p.m. at The Hub by IALA, House of His Glory, Plot 18, Providence Road, beside Keystone Bank, Marwa, Lekki, Lagos. Hamzat has publicly indicated his intention to participate, announcing that he would use the opportunity to present his manifesto, tagged P.R.O.M.I.S.E. – The Lagos Promise.
The engagement, organised by a coalition of five media organisations, is expected to provide a platform for the candidates to explain their programmes, defend their policy choices and respond to questions on issues affecting residents of Lagos State.
Key areas expected to feature in the discussion include transportation, infrastructure, security, housing, education, healthcare, job creation and economic growth. The candidates are expected to explain how they intend to address these challenges and translate their campaign promises into practical policies.
The Nigeria Debate Consortium comprises Channels Television, TVC News, The PUNCH, TheCable and Vanguard Newspaper. According to the organisers, the initiative is designed to promote informed electoral choices by allowing voters to scrutinise the candidates’ ideas, priorities and preparedness to govern.
The consortium said the debate would be conducted in accordance with professional standards, with fairness, neutrality, equal opportunity and editorial independence guiding the proceedings. It added that participating candidates would be subjected to the same rules, speaking times and moderation standards, while experienced journalists would moderate the discussion.
The Lagos governorship debate will open the consortium’s series of electoral engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections, with similar debates planned for selected battleground states before culminating in a presidential debate and town hall. The organisers have encouraged eligible voters, young people, civil society organisations, professional groups and members of the business community to follow the engagement and assess the candidates’ proposals for the future of Lagos.
