Okupe, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, slammed the Peoples Democratic Party's Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for sending his Vice and Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, to represent him at the Arise Television town hall meeting on Sunday.
The presidential candidates of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the People's Redemption Party (PRP), Rabiu Kwankwaso and Kola Abiola, were present during the meeting, while the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, were absent.
Okupe stated that Obi will no longer debate with surrogates or running mates and will withdraw from any debate at the last minute if other presidential candidates fail to appear.
"Are we saying we won't debate if other candidates don't show up?" Okupe asked. We will not, we will not. We are setting the standard and correcting the record. We are the ones who will change the system. We cannot take part in the system's subversion. That would completely contradict our position of establishing a new Nigeria.
"If anyone wants to organise a debate and bring people from the street, we will not participate." Whatever you say, if it is acceptable to us and we all agree on it, we will stick to it and stand by it. We need to start doing things properly somewhere, and we believe it is now.
"While our candidates, Mr. Peter Obi and Dr. Yusuf Baba-Ahmed, are ready at all times to engage other candidates and the Nigerian people in any duly scheduled debates, Townhall meetings, and other appearances as designated and scheduled this election season, they will only be ready to mount the podium with their peers in this presidential race, and not with any surrogates or diversionary delegated representation."
"This position is taken with the utmost respect for Nigerians' rights and desires to full and direct information, as well as first-hand responses and presentations, as required to make the best assessment of worthiness, capacity, capability, competence, character, integrity, and disposition in these upcoming elections."
Okupe stated that Obi is ready to engage Nigerians at any time to discuss his mission and vision for the people and country he seeks to lead competently and responsibly.
