Ex-presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, both of whom are believed to have supported Atiku Abubakar for the February presidential election, were absent at the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the inauguration.
No reason has been given for their absence, although the federal government had announced that the inauguration would be low-key. Major events that would have been part of the inauguration have been scheduled for June 12 which has now been declared Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
Buhari emerged winner of February Presidential elections after defeating Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
According to Electoral umpire, INEC, Buhari polled 55.6 per cent of the votes (15,191,847) to defeat Atiku Abubakar who polled 41.2 per cent (11,262,978).
Mr Atiku Abubakar and his party, PDP, are in court, to challenge the outcome of the result claiming irregularities and that he(Atiku Abubakar ) actually won the election based on the result he claims to have obtained from the server of the electoral body.
Former Presidents who were absent from the event are Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. However a former military head of state, Yakubu Gowon was present. Also present were; Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
it would be recalled that Senate President, Saraki and Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara defected from Mr Buhari’s party, APC, to the opposition PDP in the build-up to the 2019 elections.
