Why Tinubu, Shettima Were Absent At Arise TV Debate – Festus Keyamo Explains

The presidential campaign council of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC), candidate has explained why he was absent at the debate organised by Arise TV on Sunday.

A statement signed by Festus Keyamo, SAN, the Director public affairs and spokesperson  of Tinubu and Shettima’s presidential campaign council explained that because the busy schedule of Tinubu will not allow him honour all the invitations by numerous media houses, he choose not to attend any so that all would be treated equally.

“….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..

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

The debate was organised by Arise Television in conjunction with the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Vanguard Newspaper, Premium Times, Nigerian Guild of Editors (\NGE) and Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Three presidential candidates, Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP0, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), and Chief Kola Abiola of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) were in attendance.

Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate who is currently out of the country, was represented by his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. However, neither Tinubu nor his running mate, Kashim Shettima were in attendance.