CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele joins Presidential race, purchases N100m Nomination form

The central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, has joined the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari. Emefiele acquired a form on Friday permitting him to compete to become the All Progressive Congress’ presidential candidate, party spokesman Joseph Morka said confirmed on phone to our source. The APC’s presidential nomination forms cost 100 million naira. At least 17 candidates have so far paid for the forms so far out of about 30 aspirants that have indicated an interest in running. However, the party, in a statement on Wednesday, said the primaries to choose the nominee are scheduled to take placehe at a later date. “Congresses to elect local, state and national delegates hold 12th-14th May,” the APC said. Meanwhile a new electoral law signed by President Buhari in February requires all presidential appointees to resign before the primaries, it isn’t clear if Emefiele will do so as the law is being challenged in court. Nonetheless, Emefiele is required to resign if he wins the ruling party’s ticket as the law establishing the central bank in Africa’s largest economy requires the governor to devote the “whole of their time to the service of the Bank while holding office.” Following months of speculation, Emefiele, is joining a field that includes political heavyweights such as Bola Tinubu, the APC’s national leader and former governor of Lagos state, and Yemi Osinbajo, who has served as Buhari’s vice president since 2015.   The primaries to choose the nominee are scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 1 ahead of nationwide elections in February next year. While a new electoral law signed by President Buhari in February requires all presidential appointees to resign before the primaries, it isn’t clear if Emefiele will do so as the law is being challenged in court. He has headed the Central Bank of Nigeria for almost eight years.