2023 Presidency: Count Me Out – INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Says
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Yakubu Mahmood, on Sunday, May 8, 2022, declared that he has no interest whatsoever, in contesting the 2023 presidential elections.
The INEC Chairman emphasized that 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.
Prof Mahmood, who stated these while reacting to insinuations that he was likely to join the 2023 presidential race, assured that he would continue to discharge his responsibilities without affection for, or ill-will against, any political party or candidate.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Yekanmi, on Sunday, Prof. Mahmood pointedly said that he was not interested in joining the presidential race, stressing that; “it will not happen”.
In the statement titled; “Calls on the INEC chairman to join the 2023 presidential election,” the INEC Chairman said that he remains an umpire committed to free, fair and credible elections.
The statement further states; “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 will continue to discharge his responsibilities without affection for, or ill-will against, any political party or candidate,” it said.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Saturday said that following the purchase of Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms of the All Progressives Congress (AP) by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Nigerians should not be shocked if the Chairman of INEC, equally purchases the N100 million Expression of Interest and Nomination forms.
