Count me out of 2023 presidential race — INEC chair

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said that he is not contesting the 2023 presidential election.

Yabuku, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, described a statement that called on him to join the race for the 2023 presidential election as unfair.

The statement read: “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.

“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.”