Nigeria's defence headquarters adds its voice to those condemning calls for interim government

NIGERIA'S defence headquarters has added its voice to those condemning recent calls for the establishment of an interim government on May 29 saying such demands are both unfortunate and unconstitutional.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) subsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner. Among the other main gladiators in the contest were Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the returning officer for the presidential election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the victor of the contest with 8,794,726 votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes and Governor Obi who came third with 6,101,533 votes. However, the PDP and Labour Party have refused to accept the results.

Several leading opposition figures led by Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the Labour Party's vice presidential candidate, who felt the elections were not free and fair, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to annul them. Many opposition politicians have also demanded that an interim national government be instituted on May 29 rather than have Asiwaju Tinubu sworn-in as president.

Responding to these calls,  Major General Musa Danmadami, the director of media operations at Nigeria's defence headquarters in Abuja, described the call for an interim government by some individuals in the country as unfortunate and unconstitutional. He added that those calling for an interim government were just trying to be mischievous, saying that the constitution did not provide for an interim national government.

Major General Danmadami said: “On the issue of interim government, it is rather unfortunate. An election has been conducted and Inec has announced a president-elect. It’s not our responsibility to speak on that issue but I know that several calls have been made from the presidency that there’s nothing like an interim national government.

“So I think people were just trying to be mischievous. It’s unconstitutional and all of us know that. The constitution doesn’t provide for an interim national government and that is the point the presidency has been hammering on and that’s our stand.”