The insinuation in some quarters that
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, will run for the Office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria has been described as utter rubbish and not worth discussing at all.
According to a press statement made available to journalists on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to INEC Chairman,
Comrade Rotimi Oyekanmi, Yakubu
remains an independent umpire committed to free, fair and credible elections and does not intend to enter into the murky waters of politics.
The statement titled: ‘Call on the INEC Chairman to join the race for the 2023 Presidential Election’, read in parts:
“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.
“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”.
