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INEC will no longer keep sensitive electoral matters with CBN

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The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, said on Saturday the commission would no longer keep sensitive electoral materials with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The development may not be unconnected with the backlash that trailed the decision of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to vie for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket last month.

Several individuals and groups in Nigeria had during the period questioned the sanctity of electoral matters kept with the apex bank if Emefiele who was expected to play a neutral role as the country intensifies preparations for the 2023 general elections could be involved in partisan politics.

Mahmood, who disclosed this at an election dialogue organised by Enough is Enough (EiE) in Abuja, said beginning with the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State, INEC will not keep its sensitive materials with the CBN.

He said the decision was to ensure that electoral materials for the lined up elections are not compromised.

READ ALSO: INEC considers possibility of moving election materials from CBN

The INEC chief said: “Logistics in an election is much wider than the movement of sensitive material for the election. For example in Ekiti, all non-sensitive materials have been delivered to Ado-Ekiti and they are in all the local government areas of the state.

“But sensitive materials are usually delivered on behalf of the commission by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). These are inspected in the presence of the bank and then moved out by INEC officials.

“I want to say that since INEC started this collaboration with the CBN, we have never experienced a single issue with the movement of materials. The apex bank has been such a good partner to the commission.

“But we appreciate the current circumstances, and it is for that reason, pending the time we find an alternative, the materials for the Ekiti election will not be routed through the CBN.”

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