Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is absent at the debate for presidential candidates.
Mr Abubakar is not the only one absent, the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking a second term on office is also absent.
The event monitored by POLITICS TIMES has five candidates including Buhari and Atiku as participants but the duo were absent.
The duo are major contestants in the next month presidential election.
Those slugging it out at the debate includes: Oby Ezekwesili – Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Fela Durotoye – Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Kingsley Moghalu – Young Progressives Party (YPP).
As at press time, POLITICS TIMES could not independently verify why the president was absent, although his party had hinted of his possible withdrawal.
Atiku on Saturday restated his earlier claim that he won’t participate in the debate with the president absent.
Although he was at the venue of the debate, he backtracked on realising the absence of Buhari.
“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,” Atiku said in a tweet.
