Five leading Nigerian media organisations have fixed Sunday, November 8, 2026, for a governorship debate among candidates contesting the 2027 Lagos State election.
The debate, organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, will hold at 7pm at The Hub by IALA, House of His Glory, Lekki, Lagos.
The event will bring together governorship candidates from various political parties to outline their policy proposals, defend their positions and respond to questions on issues affecting residents of the state.
The consortium comprises Channels Television, TVC News, PUNCH, TheCable and Vanguard. It said the Lagos debate would be the first in a series of engagements planned for key battleground states ahead of the 2027 general elections, culminating in a presidential debate and town hall.
According to a statement released on Sunday, the debate will focus on critical areas of governance, including transportation, infrastructure, security, housing, education, healthcare, job creation and economic growth.
The organisers said the initiative was designed to promote democratic participation, electoral accountability and informed public discourse by providing voters with an opportunity to scrutinise the candidates’ programmes and preparedness for leadership.
They assured participating candidates of equal treatment, with identical rules, speaking times and moderation standards. Experienced journalists will moderate the debate in line with principles of fairness, neutrality and editorial independence.
The event will be broadcast to national and digital audiences through the platforms of the participating media organisations.
Among the leading contenders expected to face public scrutiny are the Lagos State Deputy Governor and All Progressives Congress candidate, Obafemi Hamzat; African Democratic Congress candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour; and Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate, Funso Doherty.
Hamzat has outlined plans to strengthen infrastructure, improve security through the establishment of state police, tackle flooding and address housing and waste management challenges.
Rhodes-Vivour has promised to deliver 100,000 affordable housing units during his first term, alongside measures to protect residents against police intimidation and political thuggery.
Doherty, on his part, has pledged to make education and healthcare accessible free of charge within his first 100 days in office if elected governor.
The consortium urged Lagos residents, particularly eligible voters, young people, civil society organisations, professional bodies and members of the business community, to follow the debate.
It said the engagement would provide an opportunity for voters to assess not just campaign promises but also the candidates’ proposed strategies for addressing the state’s challenges.