The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has joined the list of persons who have the All Progressives Congress’ Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for the presidency, valued at N100 million.
The forms were reportedly picked up on his behalf by three groups – Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Friends of Emefiele, and Emefiele Support Group.
This put paid to speculations over the intent of the groups that have been calling on the CBN governor to run in next year’s presidential election.
The coalition of groups may be smiling, but many Nigerians aren’t, going by the reactions on social media to the news of the purchase of the forms for Mr. Emefiele.
A serving CBN Governor is openly partisan.
— Olúṣeun Onígbindé (@seunonigbinde) May 6, 2022
The audacity of impunity.
IG of Police or Chief of Army Staff could decide to run for president while actively commanding thousands of armed personnel, and nothing would happen.
— Editi Effiòng (@EditiEffiong) May 6, 2022
This is the precedent being set by Emefiele.
A legal practitioner @AbdulMahmud says Emefiele’s involvement in partisan politics contravenes the CBN Act of 2007.
Emefiele is now poking his fingers at us and our law. This is just beyond contemplation, reason, and logic that a sitting CBN Governor is not only a closet member of a political party, he's actively taking part in a partisan contest in defiance of Section 1 (3) of https://t.co/N3bUoYRAJI
— Great Oracle Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary (@AbdulMahmud01) May 6, 2022
Meanwhile, the civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) wants Mr. Emefiele to resign as engaging in politics will detract him from his full-time duties.
BREAKING: Following reports that the CBN governor Mr Godwin Emefiele has picked the APC N100m presidential nomination form, we urge him to immediately resign his position in line with S. 9 of the CBN Act.
— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) May 6, 2022
Engaging in politics will conflict with/detract from his full-time duties.
Other individuals are also calling for his resignation.
Nigeria is gone. Imagine the man in charge of Nigeria’s monetary policy is an active politician.
— Thεό Abu (@TheoAbuAgada) May 6, 2022
Lmao. Can’t make this up.
Emefiele must resign now.
Dear President @MBuhari Please demand the immediate resignation of Emefiele, there is a very important reason the CBN Governor must remain apolitical
— Bolaji Lawal (@BabanMoh) May 6, 2022
