Oladimeji Fabiyi, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), criticized the Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government for handing over transition documents to the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, without him being officially sworn into office.
The handover ceremony took place in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and included Buhari conferring the highest honor in the country, the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR), on Tinubu. During an interview on Africa Independent Television’s ‘Kaakaki’ program, Fabiyi, who serves as a spokesman for the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, argued that the handover violated the Constitution and democratic traditions dating back to 1999.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening institutions and highlighted that previous government transitions always involved the President-elect being sworn in before receiving transition documents. Fabiyi expressed dissatisfaction among Nigerians regarding the rushed nature of the handover and questioned the motive behind it.
While acknowledging that Bola Tinubu is indeed the President-elect, Fabiyi stressed the need for responsible governance and adherence to constitutional procedures. He criticized the unconstitutional nature of the handover ceremony, stating that it undermined democratic institutions that have been in place for decades.
Fabiyi referenced previous government transitions, including Buhari’s own in 2015, to highlight that this current approach deviates from established norms and traditions. He called for an explanation as to why the rush and the deviation from the customary procedure of the handover taking place after May 29, the official inauguration date.
