Arise Television’s Morning Show anchor, Rufai Oseni, has criticised President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and other political candidates over their failure to present campaign manifestos and announce plans for presidential debates ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
Oseni described the situation as an insult to Nigerians, accusing politicians across party lines of concentrating on verbal attacks and political exchanges rather than presenting concrete policy proposals to address the country’s economic and security challenges.
The broadcaster made the remarks on Wednesday during Arise Television’s Morning Show, where he called on political parties and presidential hopefuls to publish their manifestos and provide a clear timetable for presidential debates.
According to Oseni, Nigerians deserve to understand the policies, priorities and governing strategies of those seeking the country’s highest political office before making their choices at the polls.
“I think all of them, all the political candidates, have insulted Nigerians. It’s an insult to Nigerians for all of them, from the APC to the NDC,” he said.
Oseni Faults Presidential Candidates Over Manifestos
The television anchor expressed concern that political candidates had yet to demonstrate sufficient commitment to presenting their policy ideas and engaging in meaningful debates ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He argued that campaign activities should go beyond political rhetoric and personal criticism, insisting that candidates must provide clear explanations of how they intend to govern the country.
“All of you don’t take us seriously. You don’t have your campaign manifesto. We’re not debating on that. All of you, you are not even ready to give us a debate,” Oseni said.
He also questioned why political parties and candidates had not publicly announced a schedule for presidential debates, maintaining that voters should know when they would have the opportunity to assess the candidates’ proposals.
Oseni maintained that Nigerians should not be expected to make informed electoral decisions without access to detailed policy documents and opportunities to compare the positions of presidential contenders.
Broadcaster Calls for Mandatory Presidential Debates
Oseni cited South Korea as an example of a country where presidential debates are mandatory, urging Nigeria to consider a similar arrangement to strengthen accountability and encourage issue-based political campaigns.
He argued that anyone seeking the presidency should be prepared to defend their ideas publicly and explain how their proposed policies would address the country’s pressing challenges.
“If you must put yourself up for presidency, at least be decent enough to be able to debate your ideas. If you don’t want to do it, go and sit at your father’s house,” he said.
His comments highlight concerns about the role of presidential debates in Nigeria’s democratic process and the need for voters to evaluate candidates beyond campaign promises, party affiliations and political attacks.
Oseni Accuses Politicians of Prioritising Personal Attacks
The broadcaster further criticised politicians for allegedly focusing on insults and exchanges against their opponents instead of explaining how they intend to tackle Nigeria’s economic difficulties, insecurity and other national problems.
He expressed disappointment with both the ruling party and opposition figures, arguing that neither side appeared to be meeting public expectations for constructive political engagement.
According to Oseni, a strong opposition is essential to democratic accountability because it provides an alternative platform for policies, scrutinises the government and offers voters different approaches to national development.
“The opposition and the incumbent, they are all almost looking the same to me. I feel politics is a festival of strength of ideas, and I always feel that opposition must be strengthened to balance democracy. But a lot of people are not pulling their weight,” he said.
He maintained that political competition should be driven by the strength of ideas and the credibility of policy proposals rather than personal rivalries.
Tinubu, Atiku, Obi Urged to Explain Policy Proposals
Oseni also questioned the substance of policy proposals being advanced by presidential candidates, particularly in relation to major economic decisions such as petrol subsidy removal.
He challenged politicians to explain not only what they intended to change but also how they planned to implement their promises and manage the consequences of their proposed policies.
The broadcaster argued that manifestos should contain practical and measurable commitments that Nigerians can use to assess candidates during the campaign and hold them accountable after the election.
He called on the presidential hopefuls to make their manifestos available within the next week, insisting that the public needed clear policy positions rather than excuses or continued political exchanges.
“So please, in the next week, we want to see manifestos. We don’t want to see excuses. People should be able to bring their manifestos forward,” Oseni said.
2027 Election: Nigerians Seek Clear Policy Direction
Oseni’s criticism comes amid growing expectations that presidential candidates will explain their priorities and demonstrate how they intend to address Nigeria’s economic pressures, insecurity, unemployment and other development challenges ahead of the 2027 general election.
The debate over manifestos and presidential debates also raises questions about transparency, voter education and the responsibility of political parties to provide Nigerians with the information needed to make informed choices.
For Oseni, the central issue is the need for candidates to demonstrate seriousness by making their policy proposals public and participating in debates where their ideas can be scrutinised.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, the demand for accessible manifestos and structured presidential debates places renewed attention on the quality of political discourse and the accountability expected of those seeking public office.