Venezuela 🇻🇪 opposition governors refuse to be sworn in

Venezuela's opposition said its newly-elected governors would refuse to participate in a swearing in ceremony before the pro-government Constituent Assembly, which it does not recognize.

The Democratic Union Roundtable (MUD) said it would not allow its five governors to be subjected to "the blackmail of the fraudulent Constituent Assembly" after President Nicolas Maduro threatened to remove them from office if they refused.

"We will only be sworn in before God and the respective legislative councils and not before the fraudulent Constituent Assembly," the MUD said in a statement shortly before a special swearing-in session convened at the legislative palace.

The opposition had previously said it would not participate but doubts remained until shortly before the ceremony because of internal divisions.

It was unclear early Wednesday whether the refusal would mean the governors are dismissed as Maduro has threatened, and if so, who would replace them.

UCJ, UNILORIN.