The bid to draft former president Goodluck Jonathan and Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele into next year’s presidential race on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress appeared to have hit the rocks with uncertainty over their interest in the race, Saturday Vanguard reports.

According to the report, both the expression of interest and nomination forms, which different groups bought for them were neither completed nor submitted at the close of deadline for the submission of forms yesterday.

Although no reason was given for their sudden loss of interest in the APC presidential ticket, a reliable source confided in Saturday Vanguard that the whole process surrounding the participation of the former president in the race as a consensus candidate of the party, had been enmeshed in uncertainty and controversy, leaving the former leader with no choice but to opt out. Emefiele was said to have taken no further action after his lawyer sought the interpretation of court on the electoral law. He wanted to know if section 84(12) that compels appointees to resign before contesting elections.

For President Jonathan, it was learnt that some key loyalists of the former president, who could have given him the nod to go ahead with the race, had since become convinced that it would not be possible for the APC to concede the ticket to him, given the mood in the party and the body language of its leaders.

Jonathan’s backers, it was also gathered, had also not been forthcoming with details of how they intended to push through with his candidature given the array of other presidential aspirants who are laying claim to being ‘anointed’ by the powers that be.

The Jonathan’s circle of friends, it was learnt, were convinced that the renewed moves by some hawks within the APC to throw open the APC presidential ticket as is being done by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, would also not favour their leader and therefore, advised him to steer clear of the muddy political water and keep his head high as a former president. “We are not sure of anything as at the time I am speaking with you. We cannot say if the forms had been filled and submitted as at the close of submission of forms on Friday. We are monitoring the situation,” a source close to the former leader said without giving details.

Source: Vanguard

A Delta State High Court, Kwale Division, has granted an order restricting the Board of Central Bank of Nigeria and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from stopping the CBN governor, Godwin Emiefele from seeking an elective post.

According to our Report, the application was filed on May 5, 2022, and the order was granted on Thursday, May 12.

Recall that Emefiele when told that Nigerians were anxious about his position, had replied journalists at the Presidential Villa after having a closed door meeting President Buhari that Nigerians can have a heart attack about his presidential ambition, while he’s having fun.

Emiefele had through a proxy, Augustine Eddiego approached the court asking, “An order restraining the defendants from treating the provision of section 9 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 as amended as a bar on the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from seeking political offices pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice herein in this suit which borders on the interpretation and supremacy of the 1999 CFRN.”

Section 9 of the CBN Act provides that “the Governor and the Deputy Governors shall devote the whole of their time to the service of the Bank and while holding office shall not engage in any full or part-time employment or vocation whether remunerated or not, except such personal or charitable causes as may be determined by the Board and which do not conflict with or detract from their full-time duties.”

Justice DC Maidoh granted the order on May 5th while adjourning the matter to May 25th.

“The applicant is to enter an undertaking if the order sought ought not to have been made.”

Court documents obtained by SaharaReporters shows that, “The court upon reading through the Motion papers and hearing C.N. Ofiah Esq. for the claimants/applicants ordered as follows: I have read the processes in this suit, the applicant has complied with order 39 of our rules.

“Applicants also deposed to an affidavit of urgency. From the processes before this court, I find that the said application at this stage has merit pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“In the circumstances, in line with order 39 rule 3 of our rules, this motion is hereby granted. The motion on notice is accordingly adjourned to 25/5/2022 for hearing. The applicant is to enter undertaking if the order sought ought not to have been made.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) running for elective offices to submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday the 16th of May, 2022.

The Minister of information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting.

Those affected are Ministers of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio; Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige; Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu; Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, who have all joined the presidential race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others are the Minister of State Mines and Steel, Uche Ogar, who is running for the governorship position in Abia State, and the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, who declared her ambition to contest for the senatorial seat in Plateau State.

Mr. Mohammed stressed that this mandate excludes the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo because he is an elected member of the cabinet.

He affirmed that any amendment or additions to this directive will be disseminated accordingly.

The Minister added that if the need arises, the directive might involve political appointees.

Sources:Channels TV)