Peoples Trust challenges APC, PDP to fresh debate

• Commends Ezekwesili, Durotoye, Moghalu
Following their failure to participate in the presidential debate organised by Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) and Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON), the presidential candidate of Peoples Trust (PT), also known as the Third Force Movement, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has challenged the candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, to a makeover presidential debate.

Olawepo-Hashim commended the presidential candidates of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) and Young Peoples Party (YPP), Oby Ezekwesili, Fela Durotoye, and Prof. Kingsley Moghalu for their brilliant performance at the debate.

While pointing out that “the three candidates advertised to the world a teaser of what stuff new generation of political leaders are made of,” the PT standard bearer declared: “Nigerian electorate deserve to scrutinize the candidates and programmes of the two behemoth that have come to be known as the ‘two evils’ of Nigerian politics. Their absence under whatever excuse(s) shows their contempt for the electorate.”

He, therefore, urged NEDG/BON to organise another debate to include Peoples Trust, the biggest of the newly registered political parties that had been unfairly excluded, noting, “We have complained about this in the past; a new debate will be a good way to cure the debate platform of that error. There is no problem in making a mistake by excluding us, but it will be dishonourable not to seize a good opportunity to correct your error.”

Olawepo-Hashim also enjoined the organisers to include promising politicians like Omoyele Sowore and others, who may be interested in the next round of the debate, reiterating that the debate is fundamental so as not to allow APC and PDP escape public scrutiny.

He noted that it would matter if APC is represented by another person other than President Buhari, who he said is obviously unfit and does not have the presence of mind for long conversation, adding: “We are persuaded now that we can excuse Mr. Buhari; all we want is to scrutinize APC record at a proper presidential debate. Nigerians have a right to that debate.”