The final online opinion poll to determine the four presidential candidates to participate in the debate for the 2023 general election has been concluded and now being analised.
According a statement on Sunday by the Executive Secretary National Election Debate Group, Dr. Eddie Emesiere, two polls had earlier been carried out by the organisers, the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) and their partners.
The NEDG had said the four presidential candidates who would be invited to participate in the debate would be chosen via an opinion poll.
The debate group explained that it decided to limit the number to four due to broadcast airtime and the need to get the best from the candidates as well as national appeal of the candidates amonsgt other logistic reasons.
The LP presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, had taken the first position in the second online opinion poll ahead of the Presidential debate.
Emesiere explained that in the first poll conducted in July, the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, came first, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Senator Bola Tinubu took second while the Labour Party Presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi came third.
But in the August poll, Alhaji Atiku fell from the first position to third position while Mr Obi came to the first position while the APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Tinubu remained in the second position.
Dr. Emesiere said the result of the third and final opinion poll is being awaited before the commencement of the debate next month.
The organising partners include the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, the Nigeria union of journalists, the Nigerian Guild of Editors among others.