Nigerians have expressed their anger at the absence of the two presidential candidates of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinunu and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Atiku Abubakar at the presidential debate held on Sunday night, 6th of November, 2022 at 8:49 and organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development, CDC in collaboration with the Arise Television. It took place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja
The Four main contenders for the position of the president were expected at the debate, but only two were present; Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, and Rabiu Kwakwanzo of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP. Also present was Kola Abiola of the Peole’s Redemption Party, PRP, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, were absent.
The people vented their anger when the vice presidential candidate of the PDP , Ifeanyi Okowa got up to speak on behalf of his presidential candidate, Atiku, he was promptly requested to leave the podium.
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According to the CDD, the candidates were selected based on the performance of their parties in an online survey during which all 18 political parties were listed in alphabetical order
Giving reasons for Tinubu’s absence at the debate, ,the Director of Media and Communications, Bayo Onanuga in a chat with the Punch said Tinubu could not attend the event due to his busy schedule.
Onanuga stated that the debate clashed with a town hall meeting with agro-farmers in Minna, Niger State capital slated for Monday and could not leave the important meeting for the debate.
He said, “We are in Minna now for engagement with farmers and agro-commodities groups ahead of tomorrow. The media cannot suddenly come up with a debate and wants us to drop everything we are doing to attend it. It is wrong. We also have our campaign schedule to attend to.”
When told that Tinubu could still have attended the debate since the engagement with the farmers in Minna is slated for Monday, Onanuga vehemently disagreed.
“Are we going to use a jet to travel to Minna? As I earlier told you, we are in Minna already and cannot make it to the programme. In our own case, their proposal clashes with the campaign programme of our candidate. That’s why we didn’t turn up,” he stated.
Asked if Tinubu would have attended the debate if the meeting with the farmers has not been fixed, Onanuga stated that there was a likelihood he might.
He said, “Maybe. But he is busy with some other things and he cannot leave that one for this. There are more important things.