APC rejects Jonathan's proposed handover on May 28

Following the announcement by the Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki, that President Jonathan would perform the handover ceremony to President Elect, Buhari, at a dinner on May 28, there are indications that the All Progressives Congress may reject the proposed date. An APC Chieftain who spoke to Punch says “It is simply not acceptable, we are rejecting it, it is a trap.”

“How can anyone explain a situation where an outgoing president and his team will conveniently excuse themselves from an event where they are supposed to play a role when the President-elect and the Vice-President- elect are supposed to be present?...

If Jonathan hands over on the 28th, who accounts for the hours before the morning of the 29th when the Chief Justice of the Federation is to administer the oath of office and the oath of allegiance?

What if there is even a sinister motive to this whole saga? As the President of the nation; who will still be the Chief Security officer until he hands over, there is no excuse that is strong enough to excuse him from the event,” he queried.

A member of the Buhari campaign team, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, also flayed the Ministers statement;

 “That statement is loaded and it shows that the Nigerian people should not rest yet that there is still ominous signs which we should never take for granted. If Jonathan truly said he is handing over on the 28th it presupposes that he will be absent on the 29th.

Number one, if he hands over on the 28th to the President-elect, does Gen. Muhammadu Buhari start to act effectively on that date? The answer is an emphatic NO.

GMB does not start to act on that date, if you get what I mean. Handing over to GMB on that date is not only meaningless, it is stupid. It has no meaning in law, or reality. It means that for 24 hours before GMB takes over there will be a vacuum,” he said.

When contacted to speak on the president-elect’s views on the handover date and appointments, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said, “You will get our reaction later after due consultation.”