° The debate commenced behind schedule. Whereas it was slated to commence 10am, the actual commencement was well over an hour after.
• Candidates of PDP, LP and SDP were present for the debate in persons of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Faruq Akanbi, Dr. Ridwan Apaokagi respectively.
• The candidates of the NNPP, APC and 5 other political parties were absent at the debate but only the candidate of the APC, Saliu Mustapha was courteous enough to send in an apology and gave valid reasons for his absence.
• There was a disproportionate presence of the PDP chieftains at the venue of the debate as against other parties. This was contrary to the rule of the engagement that only 5 representatives from each of the candidates would be allowed
• Save for the above point, the organisers of the debate were largely fair to the contestants and did their best to ensure discipline and decorum
• Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi of the PDP almost threw caution to the wind by the amount of shade he threw at his APC rival, even when the latter was not the only one absent at the event. That’s sure not the way of an Omoluabi.
• The candidates did not appear prepared for the debate. Other than big grammar and for some, incoherent English, there was almost nothing spectacular, much less convincing, about their presentations
• Overall, the SDP candidate, Apaokagi sprung a surprise on me, and I am sure on a larger percentage of the audience by his average erudition and understanding of the communities he seeks to represent.
• Much expectations were on Bolaji Abdullahi of the PDP, but other than big English, it was almost difficult to see through his much touted Big Idea in the way one would expect from a person of his calibre. He could do better next time.