The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was conspicuously absent at the 2023 election Peace Accord by the presidential candidates, organised by the National Peace Committee, on Thursday in Abuja,
Although no explanation was offered for the absence of the former Lagos State governor, he was represented by the Vice Presidential candidate, Alhaji Ibrahim Shettima. All other candidates were present for the signing ceremony.
Eighteen-Eleven Media recalls that Mr Tinubu was also absent during the 62nd Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) held in August in Lagos. He was also represented at the event by Alhaji Shettima.
A source told our correspondent under strict anonymity that Mr Tinubu is not in the country as he travelled out last week to the United Kingdom. He refused to be drawn as to the reason for the trip. He however confirmed that Mr Tinubu’s sudden trip accounted majorly for the indefinite postponement of the 422-member Presidential Campaign Council (PCC). The inauguration was originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 28 September 2023.
In a statement by the Director-General, Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council and Governor, Plateau State, Simon Lalong, the Council said that owing to the need to expand the list to accommodate more stakeholders and interests within the All Progressives Congress, (APC) family, it has decided to adjust the time-table to ensure everyone is on board before activities officially commence.
It also noted that as a result of the adjustment, all activities earlier scheduled for the 28th of September will no longer hold.
According to the statement by the Director General, Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, a new date and timetable of events and activities for the presidential campaign would be announced soon.
The Presidential Campaign Council had earlier scheduled to kick-start its campaigns for the 2023 presidential election with a Peace Walk and Prayers, as well as the issuing of Appointment Letters to members of the presidential campaign council on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
Meanwhile, addressing the gathering, President Muhammadu Buhari welcomed the initiative undertaken by the National Peace Committee to commit all political actors to issue-based campaigns devoid of incitement, personal insults and attacks.
The President in a video message warned that the rise of fake news and misinformation has continued to pose a significant threat to democracy in Nigeria.
