The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has dismissed a report circulating online that he will join the 2023 presidential race.
Instead, the Commission insisted that Yakubu will remain an umpire committed to a free and fair election and will not stray into matters at variance with the law.
The commission’s position was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, on Sunday.
The statement reads; “Our attention has been drawn to innuendoes in certain quarters that Nigerians should not be surprised if the INEC Chairman joins the Presidential race or urging him to do so. It is a preposterous proposition. It will not happen.
“The Chairman remains an umpire committed to free, fair, and credible elections. His constitutional responsibilities as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation and Returning Officer for the presidential election are onerous enough for him to even contemplate straying into extraneous matters at variance with the law, morality, and his principles.
“The Chairman will continue to discharge his responsibilities without affection for, or ill will against any political party or candidate”.
Recall that barely 24 hours ago, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Saturday, rejected the Nomination And Expression of Interest Form bought for him by support groups, saying he is yet to decide on whether he will join the race.
Emefiele, who said this in a series of tweets, also said should he decide to contest for the 2023 presidency, he would be doing so with his “hard-earned savings” and not donations.
