Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni has criticised President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and other political contenders over what he described as their failure to present clear campaign manifestos and commit to presidential debates ahead of the 2027 general election.
Oseni made the remarks on Wednesday, October 14, during The Morning Show, accusing politicians across party lines of failing to take Nigerians seriously by focusing on political exchanges instead of explaining how they intend to address the country’s challenges.
The broadcaster argued that Nigerians deserve to know the policy priorities of those seeking the presidency and should not have to rely on campaign slogans, personal attacks or party promises without detailed explanations.
He questioned why the candidates had yet to make their manifestos available to the public or establish a clear timetable for presidential debates.
Oseni insisted that anyone seeking the nation’s highest political office should be willing to defend their ideas publicly and answer questions about their proposed policies.
“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.
He also expressed concern about the quality of political competition in the country, arguing that the ruling party and opposition were increasingly alike in their approach to public discourse.
According to him, a strong opposition is essential to democratic accountability, but political actors must demonstrate that they can offer credible alternatives and engage meaningfully with the issues affecting citizens.
Oseni further questioned how presidential contenders intended to implement their promises, pointing to the debate over petrol subsidy removal as an example of a major policy issue requiring clear explanations and practical alternatives.
He called on the candidates to publish their manifestos within the next week, stressing that Nigerians needed concrete proposals rather than excuses.
The call comes as political figures and parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election. The demand for public debates raises the question of how willing presidential contenders will be to defend their records, explain their policy choices and respond directly to scrutiny from journalists, opponents and voters.
The remarks were reported by Daily Post on October 14, 2026.