At the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, two former Nigerian presidents who opposed President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election were visibly absent.
Former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, both of whom are believed to have supported Atiku Abubakar in February’s presidential election, were absent from the inauguration at Eagle Square, Abuja.
No reason was given for their absence, although the federal government had announced a low-key inauguration. Major events were scheduled for June 12, which has now been declared Nigeria’s Democracy Day, as part of the inauguration.
Mr Buhari was sworn in as president of Nigeria on Eagle Square, Abuja for a second term in office.
According to the election commission, INEC, he defeated Mr Abubakar and dozens of other presidential candidates in the election.
Mr Buhari polled 55.6% of the votes (15,191,847) to defeat Mr Abubakar, who polled 41.2% (11,262,978), according to INEC.
Mr Abubakar and his PDP party challenge the outcome of the court election.
While Messrs Obasanjo and Jonathan were absent, among those present at the event were a former head of state military, Yakubu Gowon ; Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
In the build-up to the 2019 elections, Messrs Saraki and Dogara defected from the party of Mr Buhari, APC, to the opposition PDP.
While in his home Kwara State, Mr Saraki lost his re-election to the Senate, Mr Dogara won his re-election from Bauchi State to the House of Representatives.
Others present at the inauguration included Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the APC, Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos, and Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State.
