Atiku Abandons Presidential Debate over Buhari’s Absence … Challenges President to Pick Date for Another Debate

Pat Stevens/

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, walked out of the presidential debate due to the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The debate was organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) for candidates of five of the parties participating in the 2019 presidential election.

Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Oby Ezekwesili of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Kingsley Moghalu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) were the only three candidates out of the original five who participated in the debate. 

Buhari was absent, while Atiku was at the venue. However, the moderator did not introduce him as one of the candidates taking part in the debate.

Atiku stayed in the audience for a while, but later left at exactly 7.20 pm.

Atiku later released a statement on his Twitter handle, @atiku, to explain the reason for his action.

The statement reads: “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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”