Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has proffered a reason for not participating in the presidential debate in spite of being at the venue.
The 72-year-old PDP candidate stormed the Transcorp Hilton hotel, the venue of the debate, along with some of his supporters and left after he discovered the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had earlier turned down the invitation for the debate and so could not have been expected to be at the venue.
In spite of the presence of other three candidates of different political parties Abubakar stormed out of the venue and explained in a tweet that he attended the presidential debate to face Buhari and not a lone debate.
The three motivational speaker and candidates of other political parties who attended the debate are Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu.
“We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar cannot challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation is not present to defend himself or his policies. #2019Debate’’
He tendered an apology to the other candidates and the nation.
“With respect to my fellow candidates, Fela Durotoye, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsley Moghalu & to moderator Mark Sugar & with apologies to Nigerians here & at home expecting an interesting debate.
“I regret I will not be able to go on with this debate due to President Buhari’s absence.’’
He had earlier challenged Buhari to pick a date and time for a debate.
“I however challenge President Buhari to choose a date and time for a debate where he will be present and I will be there, hopefully with the other candidates as well. Thank you and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’’
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