Sowore Alleges Obasanjo Was Sworn in Without Constitution in 1999

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has made a controversial claim about the swearing-in of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.

Speaking in an interview with Rock Yusuf TV, Sowore alleged that when Obasanjo assumed office as Nigeria’s civilian president, there was no constitution in existence at the time of the ceremony.

According to him, the then Minister of Information reportedly admitted that not even a photocopy of the constitution was available during the inauguration.

“When Obasanjo was sworn in as president in 1999, there was no constitution,” Sowore stated. “Not even a photocopy existed. After the swearing-in, they went ahead to print what later became the 1999 Constitution—which, in my view, is now obsolete.”

Sowore insisted that this revelation raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the 1999 Constitution, which has since guided Nigeria’s democratic governance.

The activist argued that Obasanjo’s swearing-in was conducted out of necessity to facilitate the transition to civilian rule, but without a binding constitutional framework at that moment.