Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained why sensitive election materials will no longer be “routed” through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The apex bank led by Godwin Emefiele was under scrutiny for involving itself in partisan politics, which indicates a clear violation of public office.
Governor Emefiele had declared interest to run for the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while in office.
He later withdrew his intentions after President Buhari told all aspirants who were public officers to resign and rechannel their energy politics.
Weekend, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INE), announced during an election dialog, ‘The Electorate’, organized by Enough is Enough, stated that the electoral body never had an issue with the CBN since the partnership started, but that due to “current circumstances”, an alternative would be found.
Yakubu however, said the new measures as regards the election materials would be adopted starting with the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State.
He said, “I want to say that since INEC started this collaboration with the CBN, we have never experienced a single issue with the movement of materials.
The agency has been such a good partner to the commission. “But we appreciate the current circumstances, and it is for that reason, pending the time we find an alternative, that the materials for the Ekiti election will not be routed through the CBN.
“We will move the material to the airport in Akure and move the material to our office in Ado-Ekiti and do the distribution from there. We are not going to use the CBN.
When it comes to the general election, we have to look for an alternative way of doing it.”
