Interim Government is Alien to Nigerian Constitution ― Adoke

Interim Government is Alien to Nigerian Constitution ― Adoke

Amidst rumors that 2015 general elections will not hold and that the
Jonathan administration plans to hand over to an interim government on May 29, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke has said that there is no provision for any interim government in Nigeria’s constitution.

Adoke made the clarification in response to recent calls in the media by some Nigerians for the constitution of an Interim National Government to ostensibly mid-wife the 2015 General elections to usher in a new democratic Government.

According to a statement signed by the Attorney General, although Nigerians have a right to free speech and even more so to air their opinion about possible solutions to perceived challenges in the country, it is absolutely wrong to misinform the populace.

Adoke expressed deep concerned that some undiscerning Nigerians are being unwittingly led to believe that a certain prescription (the interim government), which is totally alien to the Constitution, can be adopted as viable solution to our national challenges.

He said it thus becomes necessary to correct the misconception and refocus the citizenry on the path of constitutionalism and democratic tenets consistent with the nation’s quest for democratic consolidation.

“For avoidance of doubt, it is pertinent to state that the framers of the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 did not envisage the constitution of Interim National Government to superintend over the affairs of Government,” Adoke said.

“It is therefore not surprising to observe that no provision for Interim
National Government was made in the Constitution.”

He warned that the contraption called “Interim National Government” is therefore alien to Nigeria’s constitutional framework and should not be promoted by well–meaning Nigerians under any guise or circumstance.

He enjoined Nigerians to continue to rely on the Constitution, which
contains adequate provisions on how the democratic process can be activated to elect their leaders from time to time.