Obi will no longer attend debates where Tinubu, Atiku are absent – PCC

The Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the Labour Party (LP) says Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the party, will no longer attend debates where other candidates are not present.

Doyin Okupe, Director-General, PCC, LP, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

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He said that the absence of presidential candidates in debates has become a growing trend in the 2023 electioneering campaign.

“Let us make it clear today, that these recurring acts will no longer be acceptable to the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation.

“While our candidate Mr Peter Obi and vice presidential candidate, Dr Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, are prepared at all times to engage other candidates and the Nigerian people in any duly scheduled debates, town hall meetings and any other appearances as designated and scheduled.

“This election season, they will only be prepared to mount the podium with their peers in this presidential race, and not with any surrogates or diversionary delegated representation.

“This stand is taken with the utmost respect for the rights and desires of Nigerians to full and direct information, and first-hand responses and presentations necessary for the best assessment of worthiness, capacity, capability, competence, character, integrity and disposition, as required to make the right choice in these coming election,” he said.

Okupe said that on Monday, Aug. 22, the Nigerian Bar Association invited the leading presidential candidates to address its Annual Bar Conference and the Nigerian people at the epic occasion.

He said again on Sept. 13 and Sept .14, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry invited the major parties’ presidential candidates to interact with them and the Nigerian people.

He said that the event was an opportunity for them to unveil their economic and general policy initiatives as a prelude to the presidential election.

He, however, said that while Obi and other invited candidates appeared in person, the presidential candidate of the APC sent his running mate to represent him.

“Once again, yesterday Nov. 6, at the First AriseTV Town Hall Meeting, in contradiction to the understanding reached with the organisers, about allowing only presidential candidates to attend the event, the vice presidential candidate of the PDP was allowed to represent the presidential candidate,” he said.

Okupe said this sparked a protest and rowdy situation by supporters of other presidential candidates present.

“Obi and the Presidential Campaign Organisation totally condemn this disregard for the electorate and the people by these absentee presidential candidates.

“The decision to present oneself as a presidential candidate does not start and end with the purchase, submission of forms and certification as a candidate by INEC.”

Okupe said Obi was currently the leading candidate in this presidential race and yet did not display the baseless and arrogant disposition of some of his co-candidates. (NAN)