Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Monday, said there was no law which compelled President Muhammadu Buhari to attend the debate.
Buhari, who is presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, was absent at the debate held on Saturday.
Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had withdrawn from the exercise, citing Buhari’s absence.
Adesina, who spoke on Channels Television programme, Sunrise, said Buhari is never committed to attending the presidential debate.
“I am not sure he also gave a commitment that he was going to be there. If he gave a firm commitment, possibly in writing to the invitation, it is a different matter. I don’t think there was that kind of commitment.”
Noting also that former President Olusegun Obasanjo never featured in presidential debates, Adesina said: “We are in this country when a president that served two terms also refused to show up in the debate. Obasanjo was in office for two terms and he never showed up for any debate.
“President Buhari has been in the debate in the past as candidate. There is no law that compels you to attend debate; it is a voluntary thing. So, you may choose to attend or choose not to attend.”
Criticisms had trailed failure of both the President and Atiku Abubakar to attend the debate held for five presidential candidates, particularly Young Progressives Party, YPP, Kingsley Muoghalu; Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, Oby Ezekwesili and Alliance for New Nigeria, ANN, Fela Durotoye.
Only the trio eventually participated in the debate.
