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Labour Party VP Candidate, Datti Begs Buhari, Chief Justice Not To Swear In Tinubu In May To Avoid ‘Unconstitutional’ Government

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March 22, 2023

He also urged Nigeria's Chief Justice, Olukayode Ariwoola, not to administer the oath to Tinubu.

Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party's vice presidential candidate in the February 25 election, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to hand over power to the ‘President-elect’ Bola Tinubu on May 29.

He also urged Nigeria's Chief Justice, Olukayode Ariwoola, not to administer the oath to Tinubu.

Baba-Ahmed pleaded with Buhari not to hold a handover ceremony on May 29, arguing that handing over power to Tinubu would be tantamount to handing over power to a military regime.

The former lawmaker mentioned this during an interview with Arise TV, alleging that if the incumbent president hands over power to Tinubu, whom INEC has declared Nigeria's president-elect, Tinubu would act unconstitutionally.

He said, “Mr President, do not organise that handover. CJN, your lordship, do not swear in this man so long as that problem is not…” he said.

“Swearing in Alhaji Tinubu is as good as swearing in a military regime. They are both unconstitutional.”

Nigerian laws outline the procedure for resolving electoral disputes through the election petition tribunal and, in cases of unsatisfactory tribunal rulings, the Supreme Court.

It's unclear why Baba-Ahmed is advocating for an unconstitutional extension of Buhari's power when the legally mandated procedures haven't been followed.