INEC chair: I remain an umpire, I won’t join presidential race

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has denied the reports making the rounds that he is nursing presidential ambition ahead of the 2023 general election.

Yakubu described the reports as a “preposterous proposition”, adding that he will never contest the next year’s presidential election.

The INEC Chairman, who said he remains an umpire, reiterated his commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections in the country.

Yakubu noted that he would continue to discharge his responsibilities without affection for, or ill-will against any political party or candidate.

He made this known via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi.

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 urging him to do so. It is a preposterous proposition. It will not happen.

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“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 illwill against, any political party or candidate,” Oyekanmi stated.

The Star