President Muhammadu Buhari and former Nigeria’s vice president , Atiku Abubakar were absent as debates organized for five of the 72 presidential candidates contesting in the 2019 election kicked off in Abuja some minutes ago.
Buhari, is contesting the February 16 presidential election on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
He is one of the five candidates invited to a debate organised by the Nigerian Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria ahead of the general elections.
Atiku is the candidate of the biggest opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party. Atiku who was been in the United States in the past few days had reportedly returned to Nigeria on Saturday afternoon.
The Executive Secretary of NEDG, Edidi Emesiri, had in a statement listed candidates shortlisted for the debate alongside Buhari and Atiku to include those of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, Oby Ezekwesili; Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye; and Young Progressives Party, Kingsley Moghalu. The three other candidates were however present at the kick off of the debate.