Director-General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Organisation, Doyin Okupe says the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), Peter Obi will no longer show up for debates if his counterparts in other parties do not attend.
Okupe made the announcement on Monday, November 7, 2022 at a press conference in Abuja.
He also said Obi will no longer debate with spokespersons, surrogates or running mates at any engagement to which he is invited.
The campaign DG added that the LP presidential candidate will back out of any debate even at the last minute should other presidential candidates fail to show up.
Okupe said, “Yesterday’s event (Arise TV Presidential Town Hall meeting), was clearly for Presidential candidates not Vice Presidential candidates.
“The APC did not turn up and did not send a representative, I respect that. We will no longer be part of any Presidential debate where surrogates are sent to represent the candidate.
“We are aware that over 85 percent of Nigerians who tune in to listen to these debates want to listen to the voice of our candidate, Peter Obi.”
Rabiu Kwankwanso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Kola Abiola of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) were present at the debate on Sunday.
Though PDP’s Atiku Abubakar was represented by Delta State Governor and vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, the APC flagbearer, Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima were absent.
