An All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, SKC Ogbonnia, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to a debate ahead of the party’s primaries.

Ogbonnia said this while reacting to President Buhari’s decision to seek re-election in 2019.

He noted that Buhari’s decision to seek a second term and the accompanying internal challenge in the APC could help deepen the country’s democracy.

According to the presidential hopeful, the debate would enable them tell Nigerians their plans and vision for the country if elected into office in 2019.

“The decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to seek re-election is a welcome development”, Ogbonnia said.

“The move has the potential to deepen internal democracy within the All Progressives Congress (APC) towards effective leadership in Nigeria. To that end, I am looking forward to a robust debate with the president on our respective visions to lead the country.

“Any meaningful debate will crave for an answer on whether Nigeria wants to move backward or forward. The world will like to know whether Nigeria has the wisdom to emulate progressive nations and commit her future to a new generation of leaders including the youth, who have the zeal and the competencies to cope with the demands of the 21stcentury or whether the country must rely on recycled politicians who have been part and parcel of national problems,” he added.

Ezekwesili reacts

As reactions continue to trail President Buhari’s re-election bid, former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili has likened his decision to a trespassing masquerade.

She expressed optimism that Nigerian citizens would elect the best candidate in 2019, “rather than a lesser evil”.