2023 Presidency: Emefiele’s Campaign Train Hits London

BY EDMOND ODOK – With the June 3, 2022, deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for political parties to conclude their presidential primaries in view, the campaign for Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to join the race is gathering momentum by the day.

Upping the game for the apex bank governor to formally declare his interest in the 2023 presidency is a campaign organisation that has been registered in London to further expand the base of supporters and sponsors.

Promoted by Martins Abhulimhen, considered a long-time associate of the CBN governor, the organisation, ‘Diaspora for Emefiele Limited’, was registered on March 29, 2022, under approval number; 14010119, code 99000 of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC), which accommodates activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies in Britain.

Yet to make any official move towards declaring his intention to contest the presidency, Mr Emefiele’s campaign posters and paraphernalia flooded the national convention venue of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in March, while campaign vehicles have also been sighted in some parts of the country.

Despite reservations expressed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his undeclared stand so far, admirers and supporters of the CBN Governor insist his towering credentials and impressive performance in the office place him in good stead as the best candidate to break the so-called jinx of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.

Back home, the pressure for his expected entry into the Presidential race is not abating as some of Emefiele’s promoters, who are mainly youths and spotting white T-Shirts with the inscription ‘MEFFY 2023’, were recently all over an occasion in Lagos urging him to formally declare interest in the nation’s highest office.

Addressing the Lagos gathering, the Convener of the ‘MEFFY 2023’ group, Wale Fapohunda, was full of praises that since his appointment as the CBN Governor, Emefiele has focused his energy on building a resilient financial system to meet the development needs of Nigeria’s economy.

For Fapohunda, the good work done by CBN under Emefiele can be seen in the steady recovery of Nigeria’s economy despite the slide into recession in the last couple of years.

However, the latest concern by the ‘Emefiele For President’ campaigners is the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s National Working Committee (NWC) that serving ministers in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and other political appointees must resign their appointments ahead of the party’s presidential convention and other primaries for elective offices in deference to the Electoral Act 2022.

The APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, had said in a statement thus; “By virtue of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, appointees of government seeking elective offices are expected to resign from their positions. Section 84 (12) says: “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”.

The ruling party has reportedly fixed May 30-31, 2022 for the conduct of its presidential primary election, where one of the aspirants would be elected to fly its flag for the 2023 presidential election.

Article 20 of the APC Constitution as amended this year, provided for the selection of candidates through consensus, direct or indirect primaries.