'Jonathan Can't Cut Short His Presidency' – Falana

A Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has recently criticized the decision of Goodluck Jonathan to formally handover to president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, on May 28, 2015.

Femi Falana

According to Falana, it will create a power vacuum for the few hours between when he hands over and the morning of May 29 when his successor will be formally sworn-in as the president.
Daily Post reports that the Senior Advocate also stressed that the new date was a deviation from the law.
“As far as the law is concerned, President Jonathan is in charge of the country until May 29. He cannot cut short his presidency in the name of handing over the day before at a dinner, as there is no provision for a vacuum.

“He is the president till the morning of May 29 when Buhari takes the oath of office. There is no provision for a vacuum of eight or nine hours, and I am sure the president will be properly advised,” Falana said.
It would be recalled that on April 15, 2015, Minister of Information, Patricia Akwashiki, disclosed that President Jonathan would formally handover to his successor on May 28 at a dinner. She added that the President had directed all ministries, departments and agencies to prepare their handover notes and submit same to the secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, on or before April 20, 2015.