Ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, a planned gubernatorial debate scheduled for Saturday, August 1 in Osogbo is cancelled. Reports say the cancellation follows the absence of candidates from major political parties, which organizers cite as the reason they cannot proceed with the event. With the election set to take place within about two weeks, stakeholders and residents express concern that the decision removes an opportunity for voters to evaluate the programmes and policies of the candidates before Election Day. Both outlets describe public disappointment that the debate did not hold as scheduled and highlight that the lack of a forum affects how voters can compare proposals across parties. The cancellation also underscores criticism of candidates’ reluctance to participate in public engagements leading up to the poll. The reports do not indicate that the debate is rescheduled or replaced by an alternative format.