Fountain School Claims Third Place in 'I Beg To Differ' National Finals

Fountain School, Jikwoyi, Abuja, secured third place at the Season 9 national finals of the I Beg To Differ Secondary School Debate Tournament on Thursday after edging Grace High School, Lagos, in a closely contested debate on whether political debates influence elections.

Fountain School, arguing against the motion, won with a final score of 74 to 71.5.

The contest brought together two schools that had fallen just short of reaching the national championship final.Grace High School held that political debates can shape voters' decisions, while Fountain School argued that elections are influenced more by party structures, identity, grassroots mobilization and other factors beyond the debate stage.

The debate was conducted in three rounds: presentation, rebuttal, and closing, with the adjudicators assessing content, execution, and strategy.

Grace High School opened by arguing that political debates allow voters to examine candidates beyond campaign rallies and slogans. The debaters also said that debates can be particularly influential among undecided voters.

The team held that an election does not have to experience a dramatic nationwide shift for a debate to matter because a relatively small number of voters can determine the result of a closely contested election.

It added that debates reveal the competence and preparedness of political candidates, comparing a political debate to a job interview and saying voters should be able to assess a candidate's ability to answer questions before entrusting the person with political power.

Fountain School challenged the proposition by arguing that the issue was not whether debates can educate voters or generate public discussion, but whether they significantly influence election outcomes.

The Abuja team pointed to elections in Nigeria and abroad in which candidates won despite refusing to participate in debates. It argued that debate performance does not automatically translate into electoral victory. Fountain School also questioned how debates could influence millions of voters who never watch them.

The team cited limited access to television, electricity and internet services in some rural communities, arguing that large sections of the electorate may therefore never see a televised political debate.

The opposition said voters are more influenced by party affiliation, ethnicity, religion, family, peer groups and grassroots political structures.

According to the team, parties that build local networks, campaign organizations and structures capable of mobilizing voters have a significant advantage over candidates who simply perform well on a debate stage. “The microphone may win attention, but the grassroots win elections,” the team argued.

The adjudicators described the contest as a close and engaging debate but cautioned both teams against moving away from the central motion. They advised the debaters to make clearer links between individual arguments and the main question being debated.

After the three rounds, Fountain School emerged as the winner with 74 points to Grace High School's 71.5 points. Fountain School therefore finished third in the Season 9 national competition and received N1 million and three HMD smartphones, while Grace High School got N500,000.