‘Avoid treason’ — Adewole Adebayo warns Nigerians calling for interim government

Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2023 elections, says the call for an interim government is an act of “treason”.

On Wednesday, the Department of State Services (DSS) warned of a plot to install an interim government to stop Bola Tinubu from being inaugurated as president. 

Peter Afunanya, public relations officer of the DSS, said the plot includes violent protests to achieve the declaration of a state of emergency and securing court injunctions against the inauguration.

Reacting on Thursday, Adebayo said the call for an interim government is synonymous with joining a terrorist group.

“Peaceful protest over elections is legitimate, even if unpleasant. Nigerians, especially youths, must avoid treason in promoting any so-called “interim government”, a high crime, on the same scale as joining Boko Haram, ISWAP, or any terror group. All gains will be lost,” he wrote on Twitter.

Peaceful protest over elections is legitimate, even if unpleasant. What Nigerians, especially youths must avoid is treason in promoting any so-called "interim government", a high crime, on the same scale as joining Boko Haram or ISWAP or any terror group. All gains will be lost.

— Adewole Adebayo ESQ (@Pres_Adebayo) March 29, 2023

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TheCable had reported that Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said there is no provision for an interim government in the country’s constitution.

The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said “the gravest possible consequences must be applied” to those allegedly behind the plot.

He said the plot must be rejected by all Nigerians while calling on parties aggrieved by the presidential election to approach the courts.

Since the declaration of Tinubu as the president-elect, some civil society groups have protested the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has also led a protest against the election at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

The PDP standard bearer and Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), are challenging the outcome of the election at the tribunal.