Arise TV presidential debate was set up by PDP to embarrass Tinubu -APC Campaign

The Media and Communication Directorates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), led by Dele Alake and Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday, said the Arise TV town hall debate is set up by Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY and Arise News Television, Nduka Obaigbena to embarrass Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the APC.

The duo made the remarks in a statement they jointly signed as a response to Obaigbena’s latest comment.

Onanuga and Alake alleged that Arise TV’s town hall meetings are sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“In his first statement attacking us, Obaigbena craftily attempted to mischaracterize as an attack on free speech, our principled stand against his blackmail to have Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu appear on Arise TV and its PDP sponsored Town Hall meetings,” the statement reads.

The statement partly reads, “In the second statement, he was still adamant that our candidate must attend his town hall debate, despite our stance that our candidate is already executing another communications strategy to reach the most important target: the Nigerian voters.

“We, repeat again: We will not make our candidate available to validate a scheme which, in the light of unassailable information at our disposal, is nothing but a racket by the Arise TV owner, designed to embarrass our candidate.”

Meanwhile, The Minister of State, Labour and Employment who incidentally is the Director, Public Affairs and Spokesperson, Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo had earlier said in November that the APC presidential candidate will not show up for Arise tv debate due to many reasons.

Among reasons listed by Keyamo were Tinubu’s busy schedule, his preference to speak directly to the electorate through town hall interactive sessions.

The Minister of Labour also argued that  “many radio and TV networks in Nigeria have indicated interest to host such debates and out of deference to other TV and radio stations, our candidate will not be making selective appearances in some networks, whilst ignoring others.