Democracy Activist Speaks On The Importance Of Debate

Anyakwee Nsirimovu is a Democracy Activist and Executive Director of Institute for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. He spoke on the importance of election debate with Ann Godwin in PortHarcourt.

What is the real value of election debate to the system especially the Presidential election?

I think the value is the responsiveness of the candidates to the electorates to see in practical terms how they want to articulate the issues they claim they will tackle when they are elected.  In terms of its importance, it is necessary that the candidates talk to the electorates, it shows responsiveness but at the end of the day, it is not the bedrock or the determinant of what happens on election day especially in Nigeria but it is very important as a sense of responsiveness for people to know those they want to vote for and why they should vote them.



Does it affect the chances of the candidates?

In a participatory democracy, election debate affects the chances of candidates because in participatory democracy, you have people who are interested in some issues like health, some interested in the economy, so people look out for what they are interested in and what the candidate has to offer, so this can determine how the electorates can cast their votes during elections but I don’t know if we have gotten to the state of environment where elections happen as a result of what people can get.  In participatory democracy, whatever the candidate says determines whom the electorates will vote but I don’t think it is the ultimate determinant. Like what is happening in Nigeria, the people do not feel it is speaking of big grammar at the debate, people are just interested in the major political parties and the best representation, what they will get as a result of what they have seen. Sometimes, people already made up their mind on which they want to vote.



So, does it mean election debate make no impact on peoples’ choice?

No, election debate is important, election happens once in four years, a lot of people do not get the opportunity to hear what the candidates have to say, so it offers one singular opportunity to hear the candidates speak and also shape the mind of the people. It is important that every opportunity that is offered by candidates to express themselves, to put out their views, they should honour it. Also, the motive for election debate will determine why some people want to participate or not, as people who take seriously the views of the electorates out there, it is important that every opportunity is taken to express their views on the issues because at the end, the electorates will consider the candidates based on what they heard especially in countries where participatory democracy is practiced.

How important is the debate to nation building?

When you debate, it strengthens the mind of the people, it make the electorate have the feeling of responsiveness then the vote of the public determines what happens during the election. Therefore, as everyone listens and contribute to the power that is seen by asking questions, whoever wins would be held responsible by the things he said. The debates in some way enables people to say for example, if you are in opposition, this is what you said and if you are the winner, this is what you said, and that information would be used during the four years to deal with some of the issues that may arise.



In the last debate, two major candidates did not participate, do you think the aspirants have respect for the electorates:

It is a matter of choice; I don’t know if it is a matter of respect to the electorates. If you say, you are not going to debate for example in a country where participatory democracy is practiced, you are going to pay the price for not doing that because it is for the electorate to determine who wins, it will also prepare us for the future to get stronger, so it is a duty for candidates to respect the views of the electorates.  If you are saying that the will of the people will determine the outcome of the election, then you must listen to the people.  For anyone who say I want to run for an election must listen to the electorate but running away from them will not help.