President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be sworn in today as Nigeria’s 16th leader since the country’s independence in 1960.
Kashim Shettima will be inaugurated as the nation’s new vice president. Alongside Tinubu, 28 governors-elect, and their deputies will be sworn in across the country.
Of these new set of state leaders, 16 are members of the APC, 10 of the PDP, with the LP and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) producing one each.
Seven re-elected governors of the APC will be inaugurated for second term. They include Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Muni (Yobe), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno).
The party also secured wins for eight nine candidates: Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi) and Nasiru Idris (Kebbi).
On the other hand, three re-elected PDP governors will be inaugurated. They are Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto).
Seven first-term governors were also elected on the platform of the opposition party. They are Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Siminialayi Fubara (Rivers), Kefas Agbu (Taraba), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta).
In a historic win, PDP’s Dauda Lawal unseated Zamfara State Governor and APC powerbroker in Zamfara, Bello Matawalle.
In a similar fashion, Abba Kabir of the NNPP unseated the APC in Kano State while LP’s Alex Otti won Abia which had been a PDP state in the last couple of years.
BrandSpur Nigeria reports that Tinubu and Shettima will be succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo whose second four-year term lapses today.
The inauguration of Messrs Tinubu and Shettima will hold at Eagle Square, Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on 1 March, declared Mr Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 25 February presidential election. He defeated 17 other candidates who took part in the election after polling 8,794,726 votes. He also scored over 25 per cent of the votes in over 25 states.
His closest rival, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a former vice president, polled a total of 6,984,520 votes while the Labour Party (LP) flag bearer, Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, garnered 6,101,533 votes and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 1,496,687 votes.
Mr Tinubu, 71, will be inaugurated as the fifth president of the current Fourth Republic which began in 1999. He served as governor of Lagos State, the country’s economic hub, between 1999 and 2007. An accountant by profession, Mr Tinubu had previously served as a senator in the short-lived Third Republic.
Shettima, 57, was governor of Borno State in the nation’s north-east region between 2011 and 2015 when he was elected to represent the state’s central district. The vice president-elect who is a professional banker served at various times as the state commissioner for finance and economic development, local government and chieftaincy affairs, education, agriculture, and health.
Today’s ceremony, the 7th consecutive transition of power, holds at 10 a.m., according to the Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) constituted by the outgoing Buhari administration to midwife the transition programme. Previous presidents’ inaugurations were held in the same facility. The facility has since undergone renovation in preparation for today’s Inauguration.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, is expected to administer the oath of office on Messrs Tinubu and Shettima. The inauguration was preceded by a number of other activities packaged by the 24-member PTC and held in the last eight days. They included the dinner in honour of the duo and the outgoing administration and the conferment of GCFR and GCON on them.
Foreign heads of state and government and dignitaries, including delegations from the US and the UK, will attend the inauguration. Several foreign and local media have also been accredited to cover the historic event.
Remarkably, the event is holding despite various moves to abort it through the plethora of court cases as well as protests by some groups. Messrs Atiku and Obi, as well as the All Peoples Movement (APM), are currently challenging the declaration of Mr Tinubu as the winner of the February poll. The Presidential Election Petition Court has since consolidated the three petitions.
The transition council, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said adequate arrangements have been made for the safety and security of the people attending the ceremony. Already, security has been beefed up in the federal capital, especially around Eagle Square located in the Central Business District of the territory. The police and paramilitary outfits have cordoned off the venue and restricted movements around Eagle Square to ensure a hitch-free ceremony.
LIVE UPDATE: Bola Tinubu, 28 Governors-elect Take Oath Of Office Across Nigeria
PROGRAMME FOR THE SWEARING IN OF THE NEW PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON MAY 29TH 2023
1. Invited dignitaries to be seated at Eagles Square.
2. The President Elect and Vice President Elect arrives.
3. Outgoing President (PMB) and VP (PYO) arrives.
4. Outgoing VP takes his last salute.
5. Outgoing President takes his last salute.
6. Outgoing ADC hands over old military colours to Outgoing President.
7. Prayers.
8. CJN will be invited to swear in new VP.
9. CJN swears in the new President and Commander in Chief of the Arned Forces, Federa Republic of Nigeria.
10. Immediate Past President (PMB) hands over new colours to the new President & instrument of office.
11. Former President leaves for Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport enroute Katsina (using a different car that brought him to the venue).
12. PMB takes off for Katsina (With 001 for the last time).
13. The new President takes his first salute and inspect the Guards of Honour.
14. New President addresses the nation for the first time as President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
15. President drives to the Villa (using the official vehicle that brought PMB to the venue)
16. New President host visiting Presidents/ Head of State/ head of delegation/ Ambassadors / Development Partners/ former Ministers/ members of NASS especially
17. In the evening, there will be a state banquet to toast to the new President.
18. Work starts on May 30, 2023.
LIVE UPDATE: Bola Tinubu Takes Oath As President Of Nigeria
Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, arrives at the inauguration ceremony alongside his wife Remi Tinubu. He was welcomed by SGF Boss Mustapha.
Uhuru Kenyatta, former president of Kenya, has arrived at the venue. Some minutes ago, a bit of chaos ensued between the security personnel at the gate.
Kashim Shettima, the vice president-elect, has arrived at the Eagle Square alongside his wife and aides.
Lai Mohammed, Festus Keyamo, Adeleke Mamora, and other members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, spotted at the inauguration venue.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has arrived at Eagle Square for the inauguration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President.
Also, present at the venue of the swearing-in ceremony are the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and the Executive Chairman of Geregu Power PLC, Femi Otedola.
Live Transmission of the swearing of President-elect Bola Tinubu and VP-elect Kashim Shettima will be broadcast via all National Television stations and FRCN.
Click HERE for updates from the events…
