Tinubu will not participate in any presidential debate – APC Campaign Council

The Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council on Sunday appeared to be telling Nigerians that the  APC Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Presidential Election, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, will not participate in any television or radio presidential debate.

This seems to be explanation of the Tinubu Campaign Council in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Spokespersons of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo, SAN, on Sunday while explaining the absence of the APC candidate at the Presidential Debate organised by ARISE TV.   The director also inferred that for the same reasons  Tinubu did not attend the ARISE TV presidential debate, the APC presidential candidate  will also not participate in other television and radio debates.

According to Keyamo, Tinubu did not attend the ARISE TV debate on Sunday for the following reasons:

“First, many radio and TV networks in Nigeria have indicated interests to host such debates and out of deference to other TV and radio stations, our candidate will not be making selective appearances in some networks, whilst ignoring others. As President of Nigeria, he intends to treat all persons and businesses fairly and equally.

“Secondly, the busy and hectic campaign schedules of Asiwaju Tinubu will not permit him to honour all such invitations by different radio and TV networks, hence, our decision for him not to start with one TV station and later ignore others.

“Thirdly, our candidate had long before now realised the importance of speaking directly to Nigerians and shortly after unfolding his Action Plan as President embarked on Town Hall meetings beginning with his interaction with the Business Community and other stakeholders in Kano followed by the Town Hall meeting and presentation by experts last week in Lagos. Tomorrow, he will be interacting with Agro and Commodity Groups in Minna, Niger State.”
the Tinubu presidential campaign, therefore, declared: “whilst we thank Arise TV for the invitation, we want to assure Nigerians that we shall continue to hold these debate groups and Nigerians in high esteem. “Nigerians will hear from our candidate loud and clear through other forums.”

The campaign council maintained: “lastly, out of profound respect for Nigerians, we urge all our party structures and supporters at the grassroots to continue to organise town hall meetings to educate Nigerians on the Action Plan of our candidate as we believe a grassroots-approach to reach Nigerians will also be more profound.”