The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, changed his mind about participating in the debate after arriving at the venue of the event.
Although he showed up at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja where the debate took place, after his return from the United States on Saturday, the PDP candidate left without mounting the podium.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who was also invited did not show up at all, leaving only the presidential candidates of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Oby Ezekwesili; Alliance for New Democracy (ANN), Fela Durotoye; All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari; and Young Progressives Party (YPP), Kingsley Moghalu, to debate.
In a series of tweet after his departure, Atiku blamed President Buhari’s absence for his decision to leave.
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
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
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
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
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
Afterall, you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. I do not believe in attacking a man who is NOT here to defend himself.
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
Afterall, you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence. I do not believe in attacking a man who is NOT here to defend himself.
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
As a leader and former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let me first apologise to all Nigerians, my fellow candidates and the moderator for the APC Presidential Candidate’s absence in this debate. His non-appearance is a slight on ALL of us and our democracy.
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
As a leader and former vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, let me first apologise to all Nigerians, my fellow candidates and the moderator for the APC Presidential Candidate’s absence in this debate. His non-appearance is a slight on ALL of us and our democracy.
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
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.
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
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.
Atiku Abubakar
✔@atiku
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.
Atiku Abubakar
