A group under the umbrella of The Natives on Monday staged a rally in Abuja, where it vowed to resist any attempt to foist an interim government on the nation.

Newsmen report that ever since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the president-elect, opposition parties have kicked against his emergence while some groups have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to handover to an interim government to conduct a fresh election.

The leader of the group, Smart Edwards while addressing journalists in Abuja warned the opposition parties and their candidates against the thought of an interim government.

He described those calling for an interim government as jokers, saying it was impossible for anybody to foist an interim government on the nation.

Edward said: “Those calling for an interim government are jokers because when (Ernest) Shonekan was brought in, in the past, the people rejected it. Africa’s base for democracy is Nigeria. We have Goodluck Jonathan who is a symbol of democracy, we had the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who was a symbol of democracy, we have General Gowon who is also a symbol of democracy. Other Nations in Africa are learning from Nigeria.

“So, what I am saying is that the Natives of Nigeria are of all tribes and colouration, it is impossible for anybody to attempt an interim government. President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken clearly and that’s why we came out today in solidarity of what the President said that he will hand over to Asiwaju Tinubu.”

Edward stressed that the electoral body performed creditably in the last election while insisting that no mandate was stolen.

He noted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the election in Rivers, Enugu, Taraba, Delta, Plateau states and others, while APC won Benue overwhelmingly against the incumbent.

He said the election also saw the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) win the election in Kano State, even though the All Progressives Congress (APC) was challenging the outcome.

He added: “We saw Peter Obi win the election in Lagos State against the Landlord, that’s democracy. We saw the Labour Party win an election in FCT Abuja, that’s democracy. We saw an Okada man win an election in Kaduna State, that’s democracy.”