Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, has denied reports that he might contest the 2023 presidential election.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria had on Saturday asked Nigerians not to be shocked should the Chairman of INEC buy the All Progressives Congress N100 million Expression of Interest and Nomination forms after the forms were “bought” for the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
But reacting in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, on Sunday, the INEC boss said that he was not interested in joining the presidential race, saying, “it will not happen.”
According to the statement which was titled, ‘Calls on the INEC chairman to join the 2023 presidential election:’ “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 urges 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 personal principles.
“The chairman will continue to discharge his responsibilities without affection for, or ill-will against, any political party or candidate.”
So far, about 25 aspirants have bought the presidential nomination forms of the ruling party, APC, while 17 others have bought the presidential nomination forms of the main opposition party, PDP. This is despite both parties fixing what many Nigerians considered exorbitant prices for their forms.
The APC presidential nomination form sells for N100 million while that of the PDP goes for N40 million.
Both parties are expected to hold their primaries and elect their candidates by the end of May.
