By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
The Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL FCDO) has declared that the era where Candidates seeking political office sir in their private offices and determine their manifestos is gone.
State Team Lead PERL, Dr. Abel Adejor expressed this in his welcome address at the one-day Partnership for Issues-Based Campaign in Nigeria (PICaN) supported by Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL/FCDO) in collaboration with Legal Awareness for Nigeria Women (LANW) agenda setting dialogue with governorship candidates to deliberate on citizens’ groups agenda and candidates’ blueprint towards agreeing on developmental commitments in key sectors, held in Kaduna on Monday September 26, 2022.
“The era has passed when a candidate will remain in his office and determine his manifesto.
“We will sit and look at issues here with the candidates and ensure we have issue based campaigns,” he said.
According to him, the dialogue is the first of its kind, with Kaduna State blazing the trail.
“This has never happened in Kaduna State, these are issues that concern education, health and issues that are cross cutting. I think other states will come to learn from Kaduna, FCDO is supporting Kaduna, Jigawa and Kano, but Kaduna has taken the lead,” he said.
Adejor added that, “We are here on behalf of nine million Kaduna citizens and I am sure this will influence the decision of the electorate”.
Mr. Adejor said that what they are doing is issues based campaign to see what the candidates have to offer.
In a goodwill message, Hannatu Awan of Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW) appreciated the special guests for commitment to relate with the people.
“We appreciate this that whoever occupies the seat at the end of the day, will work with the people at LANW, we work with women and youth, so I welcome you all to this engagement,” she said.
The dialogue provided the forum for promoting youth and women participation in the electoral process and issues based campaigns.
