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Atiku Chickened Out Of Presidential Debate – Nigerians React

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2019 Presidential Debate: Naija News Monitoring Room/Live Reports
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Mixed Reactions As Buhari , Atiku ‘Dodge’ NEDG Presidential Debate.

Reactions have started bowling in over the absence of the ruling All Progressive Congress Presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari and his main opposition, Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party at the just concluded presidential debate.

The debate which was organised by the Nigeria Elections Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) had in attendance, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria ACPN candidate, Oby Ezekwesili, Kingsely Moghalu  of the Young Progressives Party, YPP and Fela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria,ANN, Naija News reports.

As earlier reported Atiku explained that he could not attend the debate because Buhari was absent. According to the former vice president who  reportedly flew 12 hours to the venue of the debate (Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja), “We came here for a Presidential debate, not a candidacy debate, and I, Atiku Abubakar can not 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. After all you cannot shave a man’s head in his absence.”

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“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 the APC Presidential Candidate’s absence in this debate. His non-appearance is a slight on ALL of us and our democracy.” He said

Nigerians however seem not to have bought this apology as they took to social media to insinuate Atiku was running for Presidency because of Buhari and not for Nigerians.

While a few commended and justified Atiku for refusing to debate at the Presidential Debate, some stoned him, counting his action as ‘chickening out’

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See Tweets below: 

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https://twitter.com/browncandyx/status/1086748153838215168

https://twitter.com/Mz_okikiola/status/1086738125303566336

See below, Tweets in support of Atiku’s Absence at the Presidential Debate: