Buhari uses Sallah message to dismiss calls for annulment saying May 29 handover date is sacrosanct

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed calls from several quarters calling for the establishment of an interim government or the annulment of the recent elections saying that the May 29 handover date to his successor is sacrosanct.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) subsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner. Among the other main gladiators in the contest were Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the returning officer for the presidential election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the victor of the contest with 8,794,726 votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes and Governor Obi who came third with 6,101,533 votes. On May 29, President-elect Tinubu is going to be sworn-in in line with the dictates of Nigeria's constitution but the PDP and the Labour Party are challenging the elections in court.

Many of those unhappy with the election result have called for the establishing of an interim government, the annulment of the polls and have even asked the Nigerian military to come and take over government. Disassociating himself from all these undemocratic calls, President Buhari used the occasion of Eid Mubarak to assure Nigerians that the May 29 handover date remains sacrosanct.

President Buhari said: “God willing, nothing will stop it. I thank God for what He has done for me personally and for what He has enabled us to achieve.

 “I am looking forward to returning to my town, to be as far away as I can from Abuja so that the incoming president will have the time and the space to take decisions without my distracting him. Nigerians cherish democracy and they have shown their love for it and will defend it against real or perceived threats. They will continue to vote one way or the other depending on their preferences.”

Earlier today, President Buhari observed the Eid prayer in Abuja to mark the end of the 30-day Ramadan fasting by Muslims. At the event, he said that after the handover, he would be returning to his home in Daura, in Katsina State, to give the next president space.

Among other things, the president also expressed optimism that the future of democracy as a system of government in Nigeria is bright. He added that as he prepares to leave office in a little over a month, he feels satisfied and duly assured that Nigerians will defend the system against all threats.