Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for president, skipped the town hall meeting of the candidates on Sunday to discuss strategies for the 2023 elections.
Three presidential candidates, Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP, and Kola Abiofla of the PRP, attended the town hall meeting, which was organized by the Arise News Channel in collaboration with the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) in Abuja. Atiku Abubakar of the PDP was represented by his running mate Ifeanyi Okowa.
No explanation was given in the open as to why Mr. Tinubu declined the chance to present his intentions to Nigerians live.
However, according to information gathered by Peoples Gazette, the former governor of Lagos was sighted at the birthday celebration of his friend, retired colonel Sani Bello, which was held 6.4 kilometers (eight minutes’ drive) away from the event.
Mr. Tinubu’s decision to skip the town hall is the most recent in a string of deliberate boycotts of events where the public is invited to interact with candidates for public office.
The former governor of Lagos’s absence has aroused intense popular indignation.
Concerns regarding his health and capacity to lead the country in 2023 and beyond had been raised by his previous performances. His advisers have shielded him from public scrutiny due to the poor ratings Mr. Tinubu received as a result of his public relations gimmicks.
