Olisa Agbakoba, the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has stepped in on the ongoing debate surrounding the purported scheme by some important political figures to undermine democracy and impose an interim administration in the nation.
In a recent statement, the DSS expressed concern about the suspected plot and pledged never to let something similar to occur in the nation again.
After the 2023 general elections, in which Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won, the idea of an interim administration quickly gained popularity.
Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, however, had rejected the results of the process due to blatant anomalies and had gone before the court to request redress.
Agbakoba, in a statement issued on Thursday in respect of the development, said the alleged interim government plot was unconstitutional.
The legal luminary advocated blatant rejection of the alleged move and cautioned aggrieved candidates to allow the judiciary decide on the petitions they had filed.
Agbakoba said: “It is shocking to learn from the Department of State Security that secret plans are underway to undermine Nigeria’s democratic process and transition, by arrangements of what is described as an interim government. This will be a major set-back and we must all resist.
“I suggest that the gravest possible consequences must be applied to all who are associated with this treasonable intent. The general elections have held, albeit under the most challenging circumstance. But a president- elect has emerged and we must respect and accept this as fact.
“At least for now. All leading Presidential candidates have approached the courts with grounds of complaint concerning what they consider as electoral irregularities. If the presidential candidates have accepted the democratic process by lodging petitions before the courts, then it is very difficult to understand upon what basis anyone considers that an interim government is a viable and legal alternative. We must all reject this nonsense and respect our Constitution, which has no provision for interim arrangements.
“As the President – elect is sworn into office on May 29, the Judicial process will ultimately render a decision. As Nigerians, we must turn to the Courts to render a decision on the petitions before them. The Judicial process will certainly carry a huge responsibility in the process of democratic consolidation. The notion of the contraption referred to as interim government, has no place in our lives and our constitution. WE MUST ALL SAY NO!”
