INEC May Sever Relationship With CBN Over Emefiele’s Ambition

*As Court Orders Commission, Justice Minister to Appear
The Chief Press Secretary to the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Rotimi Oyekanmi, has hinted of possibility that INEC might end its relationship with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Oyekanmi, while reacting to the alleged ambition of the Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, said though INEC has enjoyed a beneficial relationship with the apex bank in the area of storing its sensitive election materials over the years, the move by the CBN governor to contest for the nation’s number one post while still retaining his current position might have implications on the existing partnership.
Others have in the last few days, condemned Emefiele for seeking to contest without resigning from his current position.
Many have pointed out that sensitive materials are stored with the CBN during elections including ballot papers, results sheets, braille ballot guide for visually-impaired persons, among others.
Oyekanmi said, “The strategic partnership between the CBN and INEC, which enables the Commission to store its sensitive election materials with the apex bank, has been in place for many years and beneficial in several ways.
“Indeed, there have been various reports that the CBN Governor is nursing the intention of running for the office of president, but, he is yet to formally declare his intention to run as of today.
“However, if and when he eventually does, the Commission will look at the implications and take a decision on what becomes of the long-standing strategic partnership with the CBN.”
This was just as the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the INEC and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to appear before it on Thursday, May 12.
They are to explain why the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, should be disqualified from running for President in 2023.
A group of farmers have purchased the N100m nomination forms for the apex bank governor.
Emefiele had on Monday applied for an order of status quo ante bellum to be made against INEC and AGF so that he would not be made to resign from office until 30 days to the general election.
In an ex-parte application argued on Monday, Emefiele denied being a political appointee but a public servant not caught by Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The CBN governor asked the court to invoke Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution to bar the defendants from asking him to vacate office until 30 days to the February 2023 presidential election.
Emefiele expressed apprehension that sale and submission of presidential nomination form would expire on Wednesday and that unless the AGF and INEC are ordered to maintain status ante bellum as at May 5, when he filed the suit, he would be made to vacate office before his form would be accepted by the appropriate authority.
However, in a brief ruling, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, turned down the request for the order. Instead, the judge ordered him to put the defendants on notice and also serve court processes on the defendants.