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| Alhaji Atiku Abubakar witth the candidate of the YPP, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, at the venue shortly before the debate |
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said the reason he walked away from the presidential debate, which took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Saturday night, was because he cannot challenge or question an administration where the man at the helm of the affairs of the nation was not present to defend himself or his policies.
While Atiku made an appearance at the venue of the debate but later went away, President Muhammadu Buhari and candidate of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) did not show up at the venue.
Below is a statement by Atiku explaining why he eventually did not participate:
"I arrived the Congress Hall of the Hilton venue of the #2019Debate. This debate and the election is a referendum on the incumbent.
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.
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.
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"
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