Election materials: INEC severes ties with CBN over Emefiele’s ambition

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said sensitive electoral materials will in the meantime no longer be in custody of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Yakubu stated that beginning from the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 18, INEC will not keep its sensitive materials with the apex bank.

The INEC Chairman made this known in Abuja on Saturday while responding to questions in an ongoing dialogue on the 2023 general election.

He noted that the move was to ensure that electoral materials for the 2023 general election are not compromised.

Several individuals and groups have expressed concern about the sanctity of election materials kept with CBN, following the presidential ambition of the apex bank’s governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The Peoples Democratic Party had called for the removal of Emefiele from his position as CBN Governor after it was confirmed he is a member of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

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The main opposition party said the CBN Governor, having been a member of the APC, can no longer be trusted with INEC sensitive materials which are important to the guarantee of free, fair and credible elections in the country.

The Star had reported that the Chairman of Ward 6 in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nduka Erikpume, confirmed that Emefiele is a full-fledged member of APC.

Erikpume said the CBN Governor registered as member of the APC in February 2021.

Earlier, three interest groups, the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Friends of Emefiele, and Emefiele Support Group, obtained the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms of the APC valued at N100 million for Emefiele to run for the 2023 presidency.

Emefiele, however, rejected the APC presidential nominations form bought for him to vie for the presidential ticket of the APC ahead of the 2023 general election.

The Star