Interim Government: Why DSS Should Name, Arrest, Prosecute Conspirators – IPAC

The Inter-Party Advisory Council, a coalition of the 18 registered political parties on Friday raised concerns over plots of interim government by unknown persons.

IPAC affirmed that this would scuttle the nation’s democracy while describing it as “treason and a civilian coup.”

The organization called on the Department of State Services to name, arrest and prosecute the plotters of interim government by the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

The DSS had raised the alarm that following the 2023 general election some aggrieved persons were planning to destabilize the country by instituting an interim government.

But the National Chairman of IPAC, Yabaji Sani, told journalists in Abuja that the allegation, if true, was treasonable and a civilian coup.

He said, “Conscious of the need for reconciliation, healing, political stability, national unity, peace, cohesion and desire to preserve our hard-earned democracy after the contentious 2023 general election, the Inter-Party Advisory Council condemns in strong terms the call and plot to install an interim government in Nigeria. It is a civilian coup, treason, absolutely unconstitutional, undemocratic, and unacceptable.

“IPAC rejects any attempt to scuttle, subvert and truncate the nation’s emerging democracy by reactionary and retrogressive forces.

“It is an attempt to overheat the polity, cause confusion, political upheavals, impasse, and quagmire as was the case in the infamous annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election that necessitated the hasty set up of an Interim (National) Government by President Ibrahim Babangida which was headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan in August 1993.”

He also applauded the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission during the governorship and State Assembly election in Abia State, Prof. Nnenna Oti, for her service delivery.

Sani encouraged Nigerians to emulate the virtue of integrity and dedication exemplified by Oti, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

He said, “IPAC highly appreciates Professor Nnenna Nwannaya – Oti, the INEC’s Returning Officer in the just concluded Governorship and House of Assembly elections held on March 18, 2023, in Abia State for her exemplary conduct and very impressive performance in the exercise.

“Council’s commendation is predicated upon her ability to rise above the pressure and deliver on her statutory mandate without fear or favour, and hope that others can emulate this virtue of integrity, which is lacking among some public officers put in the position of trust.”