Ahead the 2023 General Elections, Media Practitioners in Abia State under the auspices of Abia Online Practitioners Association of Nigeria, OMPAN and other stakeholders on Thursday announced the convening of Abia Town Hall Summit to provide a formal platform for candidates of political parties to  share their mission,  vision and motives for  seeking elective political offices with Abians and the general public

In a press release, the Chairman of OMPAN, Chief Paddy Anyatonwu stated that the difference between the Town Hall interface and the open air campaigns is that the  atmosphere of  the Town Hall session would provide Abians and the general public opportunity to closely interrogate the candidates by asking specific questions and seeking clarifications how  they would implement their proposed manifesto and campaigns promises

"The campaigns in the open is more like carnivals with party supporters singing and dancing. And the people do not get the opportunity to ask questions of those seeking elective offices, but during the town session, the candidates would provide explanations  how they would execute the proposals in their manifesto, and their campaigns promises", Chief Anyatonwu stated

He further added that  OMPAN in partnership with other media establishments in the State is empowered by Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which stated that “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people." to facilitate the town hall session

The release further states: "We hereby invite all the governorship, and National Assembly candidates from all the parties in Abia seeking offices in the 2023 General Election to avail themselves of this opportunity to explain in  details  the contents of their manifesto to Abians",

The programme would hold on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 beginning from 10am in three sessions at Damgrete Hotel, Umuahia

It further added that the  Town Hall sessions would be broadcast live on two radio stations and would be streamed to its over 34 Online newspaper platforms reaching millions of Abians  world wide.