The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would take necessary steps in the coming days to review its relationship with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) amid controversies surrounding its Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.
In recent days, Emefiele has been in the news over his reported controversial ambition to contest presidency under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The controversies came to fore after three support groups bought APC’s N100m presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the CBN governor.
The development was followed by widespread criticism, with many calling for the resignation of Emefiele from his position as the CBN governor. Many had argued that based on the provisions of Section 9 of the CBN Act, 2007, the apex bank governor should not venture into any other vocation while in office and must resign in writing to the President if he nursed such intention.
Already, Emefiele has approached the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking clarification over his continuous stay in office amid his presidential ambition, even though he has failed to publicly declare his interest till the time of this report.
Reacting to the development, Chief Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Oyekanmi, in the statement he issued in Abuja, said the commission is mulling the possibility of taking action concerning sensitive materials which were being kept in the custody of CBN during elections.
According to Oyekanmi, long-standing strategic partnership which existed between INEC and CBN will be affected should Emefiele declare to join partisan politics and declare for presidency.
The statement reads, “The strategic partnership between the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Independent National Electoral Commission which enables the commission to store its sensitive election materials with the CBN, has been in place for many years and beneficial in several ways.
“Indeed, there have been various reports that the CBN governor is nursing an intention to run for the office of President. But, he has yet to formally declare his intention to run for the office of president as of today.
“However, if and when he eventually does, the commission will look at the implications and take a decision on what becomes of the long-standing strategic partnership with the CBN.”
Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Ebunoluwa Adegboruwa, while flaying Emefiele over his presidential ambition considered as highly controversial said it appears: “By the decision of the Supreme Court in Akinlade v INEC, there is no competent suit filed by Mr. Emefiele pending before the court for adjudication.
“The affidavit in support of the originating summons and indeed the affidavit of urgency were both deposed to by counsel on his behalf, in flagrant violation of Rule 20 of RPC.
“An originating summons cannot be determined in the Federal High Court without a competent affidavit in support thereof.
“By his status, Emefiele is an employee of the CBN. Any case to determine his status or eligibility should be filed at the National Industrial Court. So long as Emefiele earns a salary as a CBN employee, he should not dream of contesting the election while still holding on to his office. It is an insult to our collective psyche as a people.
“Sensitive election materials are always kept in CBN offices nationwide by INEC, unknown to Nigerians that Emefiele as Governor of CBN had been a politician all his life.
“The political party that owns the presidential ticket that Emefiele wants to grab is not a party in his court case, contrary to extant laws and practice.”
