The event organisers revealed that they have adjusted today's outing to ensure that the series continues to meet its goal, which is to enable engagements that help Nigerians make informed choices in the next election.
The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima have sought the postponement of a presidential town hall meeting they are expected to attend, The Candidates.
The event organisers revealed that they have adjusted today's outing to ensure that the series continues to meet its goal, which is to enable engagements that help Nigerians make informed choices in the next election.
The Candidates is organised by Original Daria Media concept, and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, NTA and YouTube.
The Candidates is a two-hour live televised town hall meeting series of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of six political parties.
One of the organisers, NTA on Wednesday said, “The All Progressives Congress has asked for the postponement of their appearance on The Candidates to a future date.
“The team responsible for the Candidates is discussing the request by the APC and has made adjustments to today’s outing to ensure the series continues to meet its objective, which is to enable engagements that help Nigerians make informed choices at the next election.
“Tonight, a high level conversation will seek to chart a way forward for Nigeria by looking at the issues that have come up during the town halls and ongoing campaigns.”
Meanwhile, around the time when the debate should begin, Tinubu arrived in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital to inaugurate the new Government House dual-carriage road built by Governor David Umahi’s administration.
On Tuesday, the organisers announced that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa would not be participating in the series.
Atiku and Okowa, who were supposed to feature on the programme on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, pulled out due to “unavoidable conflicts”.
Meanwhile, Prince Adewole Adebayo and his running mate, Yusuf Buhari, of the Social Democratic Party participated in the series on November 17, 2022.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Mr. Omoyele Sowore and his running mate, Barrister Haruna Garba Magashi were featured on November 18, 2022.
Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his running mate, Bishop Isaac Idahosa of the New Nigeria Peoples Party were featured on November 19, 2022, while Mr. Peter Obi and his running mate, Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, of the Labour Party featured on November 21, 2022.
During an interview on Channels TV on Wednesday, the AAC presidential candidate, Sowore described Tinubu and Atiku as notorious for shunning presidential debates, saying, “Everybody has invited them, they don’t show up anymore."