Emefiele: ‘INEC May Relocate Sensitive Materials From CBN’

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has said it may move sensitive election materials from the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Naija News understands that this is coming after alleged moves by the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, to join the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the second quarterly meeting with the media, INEC boss said the electoral umpire may be forced to relocate its sensitive materials.

Yakubu said the CBN is responsible for the storage and movement of sensitive materials, adding that INEC has never doubted the capacity of the CBN to discharge that responsibility.

“I understand the context in which the question is asked. But you should also understand the context in which events are unfolding. As we speak our director, litigation and prosecution is in court,” the INEC chairman said.

“There is a case in court. We have been invited to state our own side of the story. We usually refrain from talking about such issues because there are essentially subjudice. But we are already started talking about what alternatives are available to us in case we need to change the arrangement for the handling of sensitive materials.

“We have started thinking about it. We are aware of the situation. We will watch the situation. We still have 9 months before the next general elections. Things may be addressed out before then.

“I want to assure you that we will not jeopardize the conduct of the election by creating a misconception around the situation in the process.”