Political thugs otherwise known as “Area Boys” have forced the Voice of America (VOA) Hausa Service to abruptly discontinue its organized debate for Sokoto governorship candidates on Wednesday.
The Voice of America, Hausa Service had organized the debate for governorship candidates of the various political parties aspiring to succeed incumbent governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming general elections.
Though all governorship candidates were expected to grace the debate, only six made it to the event.
Those who presented themselves for the debate include, Senator Abubakar Gada of the SDP, Hon. Saidu Umar of the PDP, Senator Umar Dahiru Tambuwal (NNDP), Comrade Aminu Umar Ahmed (LP), Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto of the APC and Dr Ibrahim Liman Sifawa of the NDP.
Before flagging it off, the organizers of the debate had appealed to the candidates, their supporters and the entire audience to maintain absolute decorum and respect for all candidates.
The participating governorship candidates took advantage of the debate to once again state their missions and visions while responding to questions from the organizers.
However, trouble started when the floor was given to the audience to ask questions.
The first question which was greeted with ovation was asked by a female participant on what are the plans of the respective governorship candidates for gender inclusion in leadership positions in the state?
The debate however became rowdy when the second person asked a question and microphone was handed over to the third person to ask his question.
Immediately after he was given the microphone, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised alarm over what they described as undue favour to the PDP, alleging that the first two persons that asked questions are all members of the ruling PDP.
Supporters of the APC insisted that the microphone be given to somebody else, a development that resulted into a free for all exchange of blows between supporters of the APC and the PDP.
The management of the Usman Danfodiyo University (UDUS) had to immediately ask everybody to vacate their auditorium, venue of the debate for fear of possible breakdown of law and order.
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