In the weeks leading up to the May 29, 2023, presidential inauguration, a sensational report circulated on social media claiming that the Department of State Services (DSS) had uncovered a plot by top military generals to install an “Interim National Government.” The report alleged that several high ranking officers had been arrested in a midnight raid at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja to prevent a constitutional crisis.
The Nigerian Army and the DSS both issued separate statements categorically denying these claims. The Director of Army Public Relations described the report as “the handiwork of mischief makers” aiming to cause disaffection within the armed forces and create panic among the citizenry. The military high command reaffirmed its total commitment to the democratic process and the peaceful transition of power to the President-elect.
The DSS also warned that it would not tolerate the spread of fake news designed to incite violence or undermine the stability of the nation. Political analysts noted that the “Interim Government” narrative was a recurring theme used by various political factions during the post election litigation period to delegitimize the transition. No evidence was ever produced to support the claims of arrests or a planned military takeover. Nigerians were urged to ignore these inflammatory reports and rely on official updates from the Transition Council.
