The Independent National Electoral Commission has denied reports that its chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, plans to join the 2023 presidential race.
INEC said in a statement that Yakubu remains the umpire for the polls, with a commitment to free and fair elections.
The statement came against reports that a group had planned to purchase the presidential nomination form for the Chairman.
“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,” Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said in the statement.
“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”.
