Beatrice Gondyi Bauchi
Six political parties have been cleared to participate in the 2026 People’s Mandate Dialogue scheduled to hold on December 2 and 3 in Bauchi State.
The parties are the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Action Democratic Party (ADP).
Chairman of the Central Organising Committee, Nicholas Afeso Oshojah, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, explaining that the parties met the eligibility requirements established for participation.
He said the organising committee adopted a uniform criterion requiring participating parties to have fielded candidates for all three senatorial seats and the 12 House of Representatives seats in Bauchi State.
The two-day dialogue, which will take place in Bauchi metropolis, is being organised by the Young Leaders Network (YLN), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, Albarka Radio, BASNEC, Thamani, HnG Media Consultancy, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other collaborating organisations.
According to the statement, the engagement will provide an opportunity for senatorial candidates from Bauchi North, Bauchi Central and Bauchi South to present their policy proposals, outline their legislative priorities and respond to questions from citizens.
It added that arrangements for engaging candidates contesting House of Representatives seats would be announced separately.
The discussions will cover education, healthcare, security, agriculture, employment, infrastructure, poverty reduction, youth and women’s inclusion, and transparency in the management of public resources.
Candidates will also be expected to explain how they intend to use their legislative responsibilities, including lawmaking, budgetary processes, oversight functions and constituency representation, to address challenges facing their constituencies.
The committee said citizens’ questions and documented community priorities, including existing Community Charters of Demand, would inform the discussions.
It added that candidates’ positions and voluntary commitments would be documented to provide a basis for monitoring their performance and sustaining citizens’ engagement beyond the 2027 elections.
The organisers said the dialogue was non-partisan and independently organised, adding that it was neither sponsored nor controlled by any political party, candidate or government.
They also stated that no financial or material contributions would be accepted from participating political parties or candidates.
The committee clarified that the National Orientation Agency’s involvement was limited to public enlightenment and did not constitute political sponsorship or control of the programme.
It urged participating parties and candidates to embrace the initiative as an opportunity to promote peaceful and issue-based political engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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