The Nigerian secret police have warned against an alleged plot by “misguided” politicians to install an interim government after President Muhammadu Buhari leaves office and hands over power to President-elect Bola Tinubu on May 29.
The Department of State Services warned on Wednesday that it would do everything in its power to stop the plan, which it called “unconstitutional and punishable by death,” according to local media.
DSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya stated that the department had identified those responsible for the “thwarting” of democracy.
Mr. Afunanya stated that the organizers intended to sponsor “endless violent mass protests in major cities, warranting the declaration of a state of emergency,” as well as “obtain frivolous court injunctions” to postpone the presidential, legislative, and state-level inaugurations.
Earlier, Mr. Tinubu had warned of a plot by “aggrieved partisans” to end the transitional process.
Opposition politicians, however, claim that the DSS warning is intended to intimidate Nigerians and prevent them from seeking judicial redress over the disputed elections on February 25.
