The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Adamawa, Mr Maurice Vunobolki, has challenged other contenders in the 2027 governorship election to an open, issue-based debate on their plans for the state.
Vunobolki made the call in Yola during an interactive session with journalists, where he unveiled a nine-point development agenda anchored on people, prosperity and peace.
He said the debate would allow voters to assess the candidates’ competence, policies and capacity to address the challenges confronting the state.
According to him, the 2027 election should move beyond party affiliations, personal attacks and campaign rhetoric to a contest of ideas, manifestos and practical solutions.
“We should be able to come before the people and explain what we have to offer. The people deserve to hear from all the candidates, compare our ideas and decide who has the capacity to move Adamawa forward,” he said.
Vunobolki said his development agenda was designed to harness Adamawa’s human and natural resources to tackle poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment.
He explained that the people pillar would prioritise the welfare and productivity of civil servants, youths, women, entrepreneurs, professionals and community-based organisations.
Under prosperity, the candidate said his administration would create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, empower citizens to engage in productive ventures and increase their purchasing power.
“When you talk about prosperity, you talk about empowerment, businesses and increasing the purchasing power of the citizens.
“When you talk about prosperity, you talk about bringing people out of unemployment and putting them back to productive business ventures,” Vunobolki said.
He said Adamawa could no longer rely mainly on short-term interventions and politically driven projects, stressing the need for deliberate policies and strong institutions capable of transforming the state’s resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
Vunobolki identified the state’s vast agricultural land and water resources as major economic assets that could drive job creation, strengthen local businesses and reduce dependence on government.
He also proposed the deployment of more than 10,000 solar-powered systems to rural communities, farming clusters and small businesses to expand access to electricity and reduce dependence on fuel-powered generators.
In agriculture, he promised to promote solar-powered irrigation systems to support year-round farming and help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions.
On security, Vunobolki described peace as a foundation for prosperity, noting that insecurity disrupts farming, trade and other economic activities.
He said his administration would combine security measures with interventions addressing poverty and unemployment, particularly among young people.
The PDP candidate also promised to promote fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability in public resource management while strengthening internally generated revenue through efficient and innovative systems.
In education, he pledged to improve public schools and restore confidence in the education system, while promising to establish a dedicated commission to support persons with disabilities.
He further proposed the development of sports infrastructure, including mini-stadiums across the 21 local government areas, to encourage youth participation and facilitate talent discovery.
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On solid minerals, Vunobolki cautioned political actors against making unrealistic promises, saying responsible mining required proper planning, infrastructure, environmental safeguards and consideration for host communities.
He urged Adamawa voters to assess candidates based on competence, credible policies and their ability to deliver measurable results rather than political affiliations.
Vunobolki maintained that an open debate would allow candidates to defend their programmes before the electorate and enable voters to make informed decisions on who should lead Adamawa from 2027.
