No law compels Buhari to attend debate, says Femi Adesina

Femi Adesina, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, says the
president never committed to attending the presidential debate.

Buhari, who is presidential candidate of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), was absent at the debate which held on
Saturday.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had
withdrawn from the exercise, citing Buhari’s absence.

Speaking when he featured on a Channels TV programme, Adesina
said there is no law which says Buhari must attend the debate.

“I am not sure he also gave a commitment that he was going to be
there,” Adesina said.

“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.”

He added former President Olusegun Obasanjo never featured in
presidential debates.

According to him, “we are in this country when a president that
served two terms also refused to show up in the debate. President
Olusegun 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.”