The Nigerian military has dismissed calls for an Interim National Government (ING), saying those behind it are being “mischievous.”
Describing such calls as unconstitutional, Defence Headquarters said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted a Presidential election on February 25, 2023 and declared a President-elect who the Armed Forces of Nigeria recognises.
At exactly 4.10am on March 1, 2023, Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu had declared the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 Presidential election.
Director, Defence Media Operations, Major General Musa Danmadami, who fielded questions after the biweekly update on Armed Forces of Nigeria operations between 23 March and 6 April 2023 said the military will always defend what the constitution has said.
According to General Danmadami,: “On the issue of interim government, it is rather unfortunate, an election has been conducted and INEC who is mandated has announced a president elect, it is not our responsibility to speak on that issue but I know that several calls have been made from the Presidency that there is nothing like interim national government.
“So, I think people were just trying to be mischievous. It is unconstitutional and all of us know that, the constitution does not provide for an Interim National Government and that is the point The Presidency has been hammering. And that is our stand because that is what the constitution says. It is unconstitutional. So, anything unconstitutional as far as I’m concerned, it is not applicable.”
