I won’t join 2023 presidential race – INEC chairman
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Yakubu Mahmood, on Sunday said he has no intention of contesting the 2023 presidential election.
There are rumors that the INEC helmsman may pick the N100 million Expression of Interest and Nomination forms after the forms were purchased for the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on Friday.
However, in a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Yekanmi, on Sunday, the INEC chairman said he was not interested in joining the presidential race, saying, “it will not happen”.
The statement was titled, ‘Calls on the INEC chairman to join the 2023 presidential election’.
The statement read, “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.”
