PDP challenges Buhari for a live debate with Atiku

Nigeria’s opposing People’s Democratic Party has challenged the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari, to a live debate with its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on critical sectors of the country.

The opposition party in a statement released by its spokesperson Kola Ologbondiyan, said Buhari should be present his future blueprint, “to enable the electorate weigh him alongside the party’s presidential candidate”.

Ologbondiyan said “Nigerians are aware that President Buhari has been mortally afraid of facing our candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in a general debate organised by independent bodies.”

“For this, the PDP grants him the liberty to choose a venue, date and time convenient to him to face our candidate before a neutral panel,” he said.

The opposition party insisted that “President Muhammadu Buhari must face Atiku in person..” adding that “if Buhari cannot face political debate how can he vigorously engage in international competitors.”

PDP added that “Nigerians are aware that president Muhammadu Buhari is mortally afraid of facing our own candidate Atiku.”

In 2015, Buhari said he was not ready to participate in the presidential debate with President Goodluck Jonathan, stating that there was no basis for debate since the record of the PDP and Jonathan in government is public knowledge.