By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
A coalition of organisations in Bauchi State has announced plans to convene a two-day People’s Mandate Dialogue 2026, bringing senatorial candidates from the three senatorial districts face-to-face with citizens to discuss their policy proposals, legislative priorities and plans for addressing community challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The engagement, scheduled for December 2 and 3, 2026, 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 partners.
Discussions will centre on critical issues, including education, healthcare, security, agriculture, employment, infrastructure, poverty reduction, youth and women’s inclusion, and transparency in public resource management.
The organisers said citizens’ questions and documented community priorities would guide the conversations, while candidates would be expected to explain how they intend to deploy their legislative responsibilities, including lawmaking, budgetary processes and oversight, to address the challenges.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Central Organising Committee, Nicholas Afeso Oshojah, the organisers said six political parties had met the established eligibility criterion of fielding candidates for all three senatorial seats and the 12 House of Representatives seats 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).
The statement stressed that the dialogue would remain strictly non-partisan and independently organised, with no financial or material contributions accepted from political parties or candidates.
It added that the initiative was designed to promote informed voter participation, peaceful issue-based political engagement and accountability beyond the 2027 elections, rather than endorse or rank candidates.
Arrangements for engagement with House of Representatives candidates will be announced separately.