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Why Tinubu Should Not Be Sworn In on May 29, Bode George Opens Up

Chief Olabode George, the former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has revealed the real reason why Monday, May 29 is not sacrosanct for the inauguration of a new government.

Speaking during an interview with the Nigerian Guardian, Bode George maintained that there are court issues that needed to be settled before president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should be sworn in.

On why the president-elect, Tinubu’s inauguration should be stopped, George said until the technical issues are settled at the court, the president-elect should not be sworn in.

Speaking further, the PDP chieftain maintained that the president-elect did not fulfill all requirements needed to win the election, hence there should be no inauguration.’

He stated thus: “Does Tinubu have 25 percent in Abuja? Those are the technical issues that we are asking the Supreme Court to sort out. He (Tinubu) didn’t win Abuja. There should be no inauguration.

“The Constitution did not say fixatedly that it has to be May 29. If there are issues, then they should be sorted. It’s not a matter of having an interim government. It means President Buhari cannot head out. He should remain until the matter is settled.”

Responding to questions on being a strong critic of the president-elect and why he should not be sworn in, Bode George said Tinubu shouldn’t be sworn in on Monday, May 29 until the tribunal gives its verdict.

It would be recalled that INEC had on 1 March declared Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate as the winner of the 25 February election.

Tinubu beat 17 others including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) to emerge winner.

However, both Messrs Atiku and Obi are currently challenging the victory of the APC candidate in court, asking the presidential tribunal to nullify the poll over allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act by Nigeria’s electoral commission, INEC .

Obi and Atiku who vowed to seek redress in court to overturn Tinubu’s victory after alleging that the electoral umpire was compromised to manipulate the results of the elections.

While Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate of the LP said Tinubu did not meet the constitutional requirements to become Nigeria’s president, it is yet to be seen if any major update from the tribunal will obstruct Tinubu’s inauguration as Nigeria’s president.