CBN governor sues INEC over alleged plan to disqualify him from election

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Godwin Emefiele has reportedly sued Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over an alleged plan to disqualify him.

A group of farmers on Friday bought the expression of interest and nomination forms for Emefiele to contest the presidential ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The CBN governor later said he has not decided whether or not he will be contesting for the office of the president in the 2023 general elections.

“I note and salute the sacrifices of those farmers and patriots going as far as raising personal funds and offering me presidential nomination forms: I thank them most profusely,” Emefiele said.

“However, should I answer their calls and decide to seek presidential nomination, I will use my own hard-earned savings to buy my own nomination forms.

“I will do so without proxies, in an open and transparent manner in full compliance with the laws and Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

While his aspiration to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari continues to generate mostly condemnations, Daily Trust and Punch said Emefiele has hired Mike Ozekhome to file a suit before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged plan to disqualify him from the 2023 Presidential primaries slated for the end of this month.

Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, who described Emefiele’s interest in the 2023 Presidency as “a joke taken too far”, had asked Buhari to fire him if he refused to step down.

Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act states that no political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.

Although, CBN governors are appointed, the legal documents from Emefiele’s lawyer Mike Ozekhome argued that he is more or less a civil servant and by provision of the constitution, he is expected to resign a month before the February 25, 2023, presidential election.

He also contended that a Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, had nullified that section of the Electoral Act.

INEC and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) were joined in the suit.