Calls for the extension of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari in office, shift of the 2023 elections and the establishment of an Interim National Government (ING) were yesterday rejected by the Presidency.

The calls were made by two senior advocates – Aare Afe Babalola and Robert Clarke.

Clarke said yesterday that the Constitution allows President Muhammadu Buhari to extend his stay in office beyond May 29, next year for the restoration of peace and security.

Chief Afe Babalola’s recent call for an ING and the postponement of the forthcoming elections to pave the way for the enactment of a new Constitution sparked criticisms from several quarters.

In a statement last night by Mallam Garba Shehu, the Presidency said it does not need to extend its stay in office by six months to establish peace and security.

Shehu, who is Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity also rejected the legal luminary’s call to hand over to an interim government.

He said the government would be violating the rights of Nigerians to choose those whom they want to lead them through a democratic process.

According to the statement, the administration is succeeding at stabilising the nation’s security and hopes to complete the process before it serves out its tenure on May 29, 2023.

Responding to the call on the President to extend his stay in office by six months, the statement said: “Chief Robert Clarke, a very well-respected elder may be sincere in his wish for the President to extend his term by six months. We wish to categorically restate that the President will step down on May 29th, 2023, after serving two terms – as per the constitution.

Credit- The Nation