The Department of State Services (DSS) said it has uncovered a plot by some political actors to forestall the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the winner of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya on Wednesday, the secret service said it “considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis.”
The statement follows a petition by the spokesperson for the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo, to the DSS, accusing the candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, of heating the polity to cause anarchy.
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The DSS had on Saturday, issued a statement, warning politicians to desist from peddling “hate speech” and false narratives capable of stirring chaos that could scuttle the inauguration of the president-elect.
Both Atiku and Obi have approached the court, challenging the outcome of the presidential election, which they say does not represent the wish of the people. Atiku also led a protest to INEC headquarters, to register the displeasure of Nigerians over the conduct of the election.
The DSS is believed to have been prompted by these developments to issue the statements. The service said “the illegality” of the recent events “is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace-loving Nigerians.”
The DSS, which describes the conduct of the election as “peaceful”, said “the planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency.” It added that they’re also planning to “obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.”
The service said it will collaborate with the Presidential Transition Council and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023, warning stakeholders, judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society, to “avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the nation.”
Against the backdrop of these statements, Nigerians have expressed concern that the DSS, which is supposed to be apolitical, has become blatantly partisan. Many said that the Nigeria’s secret service is now working as an arm of the ruling APC.
Read the full statement below:
The Department of State Services (DSS) has identified some key players in the plot for an Interim Government in Nigeria. The Service considers the plot, being pursued by these entrenched interests, as not only an aberration but a mischievous way to set aside the constitution and undermine civil rule as well as plunge the country into an avoidable crisis. The illegality is totally unacceptable in a democracy and to the peace-loving Nigerians.
This is even more so that the machination is taking place after the peaceful conduct of the elections in most parts of the country. The planners, in their many meetings, have weighed various options, which include, among others, to sponsor endless violent mass protests in major cities to warrant a declaration of State of Emergency. Another is to obtain frivolous court injunctions to forestall the inauguration of new executive administrations and legislative houses at the Federal and State levels.
The DSS supports the President and Commander-in-Chief in his avowed commitment to a hitch-free handover and will assiduously work in this direction. It also supports the Presidential Transition Council and such other related bodies in the States.
It will collaborate with them and sister security and law enforcement agencies to ensure seamless inaugurations come 29th May, 2023.
Consequently, the Service strongly warns those organizing to thwart democracy in the country to retract from their devious schemes and orchestrations.
Stakeholders, notably judicial authorities, media and the Civil Society, are enjoined to be watchful and cautious to avoid being used as instruments to subvert peace and stability of the nation.
While its monitoring continues, the DSS will not hesitate to take decisive and necessary legal steps against these misguided elements to frustrate their obnoxious intentions.
Peter Afunanya PhD, fsi
Public Relations Officer
Department of State Services
National Headquarters
Abuja
29th March, 2023