Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, on Sunday described as “a preposterous proposition”, insinuations that Nigerians would not be surprised if he (Yakubu) joined the race for the 2023 presidential election.
Online critics, had, in what looks like a mockery of the rising number of aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress jostling for the 2023 presidency, said they would not be surprised if the INEC chairman declares his ambition.
But Oyekanmi, in a statement titled, ‘Valls on the INEC chairman to join the race for the 2023 presidential election”, said Yakubu would not join.
He said, “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.”