Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Tinubu to a national presidential debate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku said he would not participate in debates that feature only opposition candidates, arguing that presidential debates should provide voters with an opportunity to compare the ruling party and opposition directly.
In a statement issued by his camp, Atiku argued that political contests around the world are generally centred on the ruling party and opposition, with presidential debates providing platforms for candidates to explain their policies and records to voters.
He described the current practice in Nigeria of organising debates among opposition candidates without the participation of the ruling party as “untenable.”
Atiku’s camp accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of President Tinubu of using opposition-only debates to divert attention from the government and encourage opposition candidates to attack one another.
The former vice president said he would therefore make his participation in any presidential debate conditional on the presence of President Tinubu and the APC.
According to him, there should be “no hiding place” for the ruling party ahead of the 2027 election.
Atiku, however, said he remained willing to engage Nigerians through other platforms, including interviews, town hall meetings, press conferences and other public forums.
He maintained that his objection was specifically to debate formats that pit opposition candidates against one another while excluding the ruling party.
Atiku’s camp said a direct debate between him and Tinubu would allow Nigerians to assess the policies, records and governing plans of both the ruling and opposition camps before making their choice at the polls.
The former vice president subsequently challenged Tinubu to participate in a national presidential debate, saying the platform would enable both sides to explain how they intend to address the country’s challenges.
The call comes as political parties and presidential contenders intensify preparations for the 2027 general election, with debates, campaign strategies and public engagements expected to become increasingly prominent as the election approaches.
