Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Yakubu Mahmood, has debunked viral reports that he might join the presidential race ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Mahmood was reacting to the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria which had, on Saturday, said Nigerians should not be shocked if the Chairman obtained the N100 million All Progressives Congress’ forms in the manner it was reportedly bought for the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
In a press statement on Sunday titled, ‘Calls on the INEC chairman to join the 2023 presidential election’, and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Yekanmi, Mahmood said the reports are “preposterous” because “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 ill-will against, any political party or candidate,” the statement said.
