2015 Elections: Tambuwal Rejects Further Election Date Shifts; Warns Against Plan For Interim Government

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, at a meeting held at the National Assembly on Tuesday with members of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, spoke against another shift of election date in Nigeria and insinuations about planned interim government. Tambuwal stressed the need for politicians not to heat the polity in any form. Similarly, the speaker spoke against individuals who he stated were working against peaceful, free and fair general elections. "It is very clear that if we are not careful, the dark days may return to Nigeria. We must not be playing Ostrich," he stated. "It is very clear that certain individuals are not interested in a free and fair process of election in this country. "We must not forget the fact that out of the over 170 people, the less than 2,000 of us that are elected are merely privileged by God to find ourselves where we are," He cautioned. He stated that the lawmakers had passed a motion on the floor of the House, laying emphasis on the time line of elections. He warned that further postponement of the elections may portend danger on Nigeria's democracy and possibly on the country. "All this talk about interim government, where? We do not have it in the constitution. Is anybody trying to come and remove us from here first? Those talking about interim government, are they planning a coupe? We should ask them," Tambuwal continued. "In any case, any form of government outside the constitution is a coupe against this democracy. "I don’t even know why our security agencies are allowing people to be talking about this when they know that it is treasonable. People must not take advantage of their positions to put this country into chaos".