•Okowa Represents PDP Candidate
The presidential candidates of the All Progressive Congress Bola Tinubu and his Peoples Democratic Party counterpart Atiku Abubakar have stayed away from the ongoing presidential debate organized by the Arise Television and Centre for Democracy and Development, a civil society organization.
The debate which was initially slated for 7:30pm did not start until about 8:150pm
NPO had earlier reported the debate organised by a pro-democracy think tank, the Centre for Democracy and Development,CDD.
CDD has extended invitations to leading presidential candidates in the 2023 elections to speak on their plans for the country.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Director of the CDD, Idayat Hassan, said the first of these sessions would take place today, November 6 and would air on Arise TV and on its YouTube and social media channels.
According to CDD,the invitation would allow the invited presidential candidates to convince Nigerians that their political parties possessed the best ideas for bringing lasting solutions to the country’s challenges.
According to her, the CDD, ahead of the 2023 elections, identified the need to ensure citizens heard from the presidential candidates.
“This follows CDD’s constant campaign to ensure that the parties and candidates conduct issue-based campaigns. Nigerians need to hear how their future leaders plan to address the rising level of insecurity, considerable economic challenges and the impact of foreign affairs in domestic considerations.
“This has informed our engagements around the elections, from providing fact-checking support and working with partners to provide analyses on the election security terrain,” Hassan stated.
Presidential candidates present include, Peter Obi of Labour Party, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party,Kola Abiola of People’s Redemption Party.
Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party was represented by his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa while the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Bola Tinubu did not make his way into the debate.
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Atiku was however represented by his running mate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
Others present at the debate are candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, his New Nigerian Peoples Party Rabiu Kwankwaso, that of the Peoples Redemption Party, Kola Abiola.
The reason for the absence of both candidates could not be ascertained at press time.
The Director of Media of Presidential Candidate Council of the APC, Mr. Bayo Onanuga could not be reached at press time.
His telephone line was busy when the NPO Reports called.