Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima have both been sworn in as President and Vice President of Nigeria, respectively.
The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, on Monday, May 29, 2023 at exactly 10:37am.
The former Lagos state governor mounted the podium with his wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu; former President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha Buhari stood behind Tinubu as he took oath of office.
Tinubu’s vice, Shettima earlier took his oath of office at 10:28am.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had in the early hours of Wednesday, March 1, declared Tinubu, who was the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of February 25 presidential election.
According to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who made the announcement at the National Collation Centre in Abuja, Tinubu garnered a total of 8,794,726 votes to defeat his major rivals; Atiku Abubakar of the People Democratic Party (PDP) who polled 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of Labour Party who secured 6,101,533 votes of the 24,965,218 total vote cast.
Also Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso- of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) came distance fourth with 1,496,687 votes.
The election result sheets were not signed by PDP, LP, NNPP, and other parties which had earlier on Monday staged a walk out of the national collation centre.
The leadership of the parties alleged that the election process was compromised and demanded that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) step aside.
They said that the February 25 presidential election was marred with violence, intimidation of voters and rigging.
Obi and the Labour Party as well Atiku and the PDP are challenging the outcome of the election at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
The court has consolidated all the petitions against the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, and fixed May 30, 2023 for the commencement of the definite hearing of the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
- Read more: Full Text: Tribunal releases Obi’s pre-hearing report
- Full Text: Tribunal releases Atiku’s pre-hearing report
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.