Nigeria's President, Muhammadu Buhari (center) cut the ribbon to Commission the Lekki deep seaport in Lagos, Nigeria Jan 23, 2023. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Feb 9, 2023 signed an executive order setting up a council to facilitate transition to a new president who will emerge after a Feb 25, 2023 election. (PHOTO / AP)
LAGOS – Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday signed an executive order setting up a council to facilitate transition to a new president who will emerge after a Feb 25 election.
Buhari, 80, who is constitutionally barred from contesting the election, is serving his second and final term. He becomes the second Nigerian leader to complete two terms in office since the end of military rule in 1999.
Three main candidates, Bola Tinubu from the ruling party, Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition party and Peter Obi from a smaller party are the top contenders vying to succeed Buhari
A new president will be sworn in on May 29.
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"The new Executive Order puts in place a legal framework for the seamless transition of power from one Presidential Administration to another," Buhari said in a statement.
He said Nigeria's secretary to the federation would chair the transition council, which will be launched on Tuesday.
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Three main candidates, Bola Tinubu from the ruling party, Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition party and Peter Obi from a smaller party are the top contenders vying to succeed Buhari.