Nigerian celebrities like; Junior Pope, Uche Maduagwu and others have taken to social media to react after APC and PDP presidential candidates, Boa Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar were respectively absent at a recent presidential debate.
There was protest at the Presidential Town Hall Meeting in Abuja after APC candidate was absent and PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar failed to show and instead, sent his running mate, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa.
Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, and Kola Abiola, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party, all attended the debate on Sunday, November 6, which was organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development and Arise Television.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, was not present, and the ruling party was not represented.
However, some spectators interfered with the ceremony by demanding that only presidential candidates take part. When calm was restored, all four candidates including Okowa were allowed to speak to the audience for a few minutes. Okowa later explained why his principal, Atiku Abubakar didn’t show up;
“Atiku Abubakar duly obtained permission from the organisers 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
Nigerian celebrities react to the Presidential debate
Reacting to the report, Uche Maduagwu wrote, “Ordinary debate, Dem run, but if Na to steal money now, they will be present with Bullion vans, and Custom speed, Peter OBI is our Moses”
Junior Pope wrote, “Them no send Nigerians ever since nah; this shouldn’t be a surprise to you all…..”
Jefelagos wrote, “Peter Obi and Kwankwaso spoke well tonight 👏🏾👏🏾 My Governor is an intelligent man and he has been answering questions the way I used to pass exams without reading 😂😂😂 #Obidient“
Real_ngwa_pikin wrote, “Tinubu did not send anybody! I swear that man has nothing to offer to nigerians. He keeps dodging interviews and debates,he is never around. How then will he even have time to address this country when he finally becomes president??? That man has nothing to offer and I’m sure all his supporters knows this!”
“INEC should step up its games by setting up rules to sanction those who fail to participate in presidential debates. If not, they’ll be abroad and on hospital beds yet win the election.
All of them sending their running mates to represent now won’t let their VPs take any major decision after they assume office.”
another social media user wrote. One closetfigure wrote, “Tinubu and Atiku did not show ! They do not care about y’all ! Obi ; Kwankaso and Kola Abiola did so well! These are intelligent people ; judging by what we saw! The last one toh!”