Kester E.
Nigerian celebrities including Junior Pope, Uche Maduagwu, and others have reacted on social media to the absence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar from a recent presidential debate on behalf of the APC and PDP, respectively.
Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, neglected to appear at the Presidential Town Hall Meeting in Abuja and sent his running mate, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, in his place. This sparked protests.
The debate on Sunday, November 6, hosted by the Centre for Democracy and Development and Arise Television, was attended by Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Peoples Redemption Party presidential candidate Kola Abiola.
The ruling party was not represented, nor was Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC’s presidential contender.
However, some onlookers disrupted the event by insisting that only presidential candidates participate.
All four candidates, including Okowa, were given a brief opportunity to address the crowd when the situation had calmed down.
Okowa later explained why his principal, Atiku Abubakar didn’t show up;
“Atiku Abubakar duly obtained permission from the organizers of the town hall meeting for him to be represented and that permission was duly given. Atiku Abubakar is outside the country and he has asked me to represent him.” he said
“I think that answers the question to earlier concerns raised. This is just a town hall meeting, not the actual debate.” he added
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