Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed Works Minister David Umahi’s call for a public debate, saying the minister must first become a presidential candidate before seeking such an engagement.
Umahi had challenged Obi to a public debate over the state of federal roads after the former Anambra State governor criticised the condition of the Abuja-Keffi Road.
The minister defended the President Bola Tinubu administration’s infrastructure drive, insisting that the government was addressing road challenges across the country and arguing that Obi was not a political threat to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting during an interview with media entrepreneur Chude Jideonwo, Obi said the issue that prompted Umahi’s challenge had already been resolved following the Federal Government’s decision to repair the road he criticised.
“I already started the debate by standing on that road and saying it was bad. The only reply should have been that the road was good. But I thank him because he is now repairing the road, so the debate is closed,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor maintained that presidential debates are meant for candidates seeking the nation’s highest office, insisting Umahi would first have to emerge as a presidential candidate before they could engage in such a contest.
“If he is inviting me to a debate as a presidential candidate, then he has to become a presidential candidate first,” he said.
Obi added that presidential debates are traditionally reserved for candidates contesting for the country’s highest office, noting that government appointees do not ordinarily participate in such engagements with presidential hopefuls.
