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Can I Contest For Presidency As CBN Governor, Emefiele Ask Court
Fred Omotara, Lagos
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emiefele has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he can run for the post of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without vacating his position as the CBN Governor.
The CBN Governor through his Counsel, Mike Ozekhome, told the court that Section 84 ((12) of the Electoral Act as amended, 2022 does not affect him, being a public servant and not a political appointee.
Arguing an exparte motion filed due to the urgency of the matter, Ozekhome said his client is the current CBN governor and he is interested in running for the office of the president of the country in the election scheduled for February next year.
According to the learned silk, Emiefele is in a dilemma if he can run and when must he leave his office before he can?
Ozekhome argued that the section of the Electoral Act has been voided by a Federal High Court in Umuahia and that the matter is on appeal at the moment.
He also prayed the court for an order of interim injunction stopping further action on the matter.
The CBN Governor had taken the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), and three others before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking enforcement of his right to contest the 2023 presidential election without resigning from his current position.
The suit adds another twist to the CBN governor’s presidential ambition. Last week, a group of supporters purchased the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential form for the CBN boss.
That move ended months of speculation that Emefiele was interested in Nigeria’s exalted position.
Following the development, several Nigerians including Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State. The governor asked Emefiele to resign his position and if he fails to do so, President Muhammadu Buhari should sack him.
“He cannot combine partisan politics with the very delicate assignment of his office, ” Akeredolu said.
“Should he refuse to quit, it becomes incumbent on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to remove him forthwith.”
Just hours after the Ondo Governor’s comment, the CBN Governor cleared the air over his presidential ambition in a series of tweets