CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele’s request to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation so they would not prevent him from contesting to become Nigeria’s next president.

Emefiele had on Monday told the Court in Abuja that he could run for the post of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without vacating his position as the CBN Governor.

His argument was that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill of 2022 which bars political appointees from contesting elections without first resigning their offices does not apply to him. Emefiele argued that as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he is only a public servant and not a political appointee.