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Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had withdrawn from the exercise, citing Buhari’s absence.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