The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that its candidate for next month’s presidential election, President Muhammadu Buhari may choose not to attend the much expected presidential debate since there are other viable options with which he can engage Nigerians.

Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said the APC wiould look at several options through which President Buhari would engage Nigerians, adding that there is no big deal if it believes the debate is not one of such means.

Issa-Onilu said the party would determine if Buhari would attend the debate scheduled for this weekend.

His words: “What is special about presidential debate? Presidential debate is one of the several platforms for presidential candidates to engage with the public.

“As a party, we will look at all the options and pick the ones that we can accommodate and those that will be impactful and effective in achieving our goals.  We will be the ones to determine that. If presidential debate happens to be one of that, fine.

“If it isn’t, then it is no big deal. There is nothing special about any debate. It is just one of the several platforms to engage the electorate.”

Although the president is yet to take a decision on whether he will participate in the debate slated for Saturday, January 19 by the Nigeria Election Debate Group, there have been rumours that he may be represented by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.