The immediate past governor of Kogi state, Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party, was absent at the inauguration of his successor, Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress, on Wednesday.

He was not available to perform handover formalities or make a speech at the inauguration ceremony.

Mr. Wada’s whereabouts remained unknown but those close to him said he might have travelled out of Nigeria.

Another source at the Kogi Government House told PREMIUM TIMES the former governor travelled out Tuesday.

The former governor’s spokesperson, Jacob Edi, confirmed that his boss was not at the handover ceremony.

He said attendance at the inauguration ceremony by an outgoing governor is optional  and discretionally.

“Attending the ceremony is not mandatory,” Mr. Edi said. “But every other instrument of power was handed over, and every holistic cooperation was given for a smooth transition.”

He added that Mr. Wada handed over to the APC transition committee raised by Mr. Bello at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday, after the new governor failed to personally show up at Government House to receive necessary briefings and document.

“He (Mr. Bello) promised to be personally there, but he did not,” Mr. Edi said. “So the chairman of our own transition committee had to handover to their own team. Governor Wada was personally there.”

Mr. Wada is challenging Mr. Bello’s election at the Kogi governorship election petition tribunal.