A former Nigeria’s Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, says the call for an interim government has no place in the nation’s constitution and should not be given attention by anyone.

The former leader, who is the chairman of the National Committee for Peace on the general elections, made the statement in Abuja on Thursday while addressing reporters.

He expressed optimism that the polls would hold on the new dates of March 28 and April 11.

No Issue Of Any Interim Government

“We have interacted with the principal actors in this election and as you must have heard, through the media chat by the President, he has reaffirmed that elections will hold come 28 of March.

“He has also said that there is no issue of any interim government, as being circulated by the rumour mills.

“He confirmed and also the Attorney General of the federation has said that there is no such thing as interim government.

“So we are appealing to Nigerians to focus their mind on exercising their rights on the elections day,” General Abubakar.

On Monday, another former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, told a gathering in his residence that there were plans for an interim government.

“Anybody in his right senses talks of interim government in a constitution setting. Where is it in our constitution? but some of them are working for it. God will not allow them,” he said.

His comment came on the day his Peoples Democratic Party’s membership card was turn by the chairman of the ward he belonged to.

After his statement,  President Goodluck Jonathan told some European Union election observers that there were no plans for an interim government in Nigeria, as being speculated.

He assured the international community that the May 29 handover date remained unchanged.

Nigeria’s election was postponed by the electoral body on February 7 from the earlier dates of February 14 and 28 to march 28 and April 11.

The electoral body said it decided to shift the election after wide-reaching consultation with stakeholders. It said it relied on the advice of the security chiefs on the need to secure communities in the north-east under the control on a terrorist group, the Boko Haram before the elections.