Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has picked up the 2023 Presidential nomination form of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), after paying the mandatory N100 million. This is coming after months of intense pressure from various groups and individuals for the esteemed banker and economist to join the presidential race.

This comes after Godwin Emefiele, formally announced his intention to run for the office of the Nigerian president at the State House, Abuja, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. He told State House journalists that he would leave the villa to pick his presidential nomination form from the ruling party, APC.

Sources within the APC secretariat in Abuja confirmed Emefiele’s payment of N100 million for the nomination and expression of interest forms after which the form was released to him on Friday, May 6, 2022.

APC presidential aspirants have almost hit 30 despite the decision of the party to peg the cost of its presidential form at N100m. The CBN governor has. however, thus far, enjoyed an unprecedented groundswell of support from across the country and among Nigerians in the Diaspora despite not declaring for the coveted seat. His entry into the presidential race is sure to raise the stakes in the keen presidential contest in the party and country at large

Earlier in March, a support group for the Presidential bid of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele announced that it had so far raised the sum of N67 million in preparation for purchasing the Expression of Interest and Presidential Nomination Form of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

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The Director of Communications of the group, in a press conference in Abuja, stated that the target of the group was to raise the sum of N100 million, which will be enough to purchase the form when APC affixes the price for their Presidential Nomination Form.

Also, the Convener of the Greater Nigeria Project, GNP, Dr. Ike Osuji said the group which comprises technocrats and professionals across Nigeria and the Diaspora is laser-focused on pooling their effort and resources towards electing Godwin Emefiele as Nigeria’s first technocrat into office as president in order to harness the full potential of Nigeria and lift the nation to true and enduring greatness.

Meanwhile, former founding state chairmen of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Mallam Musa Abu have earlier advised the party’s leadership to work towards ensuring the emergence of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele as presidential flag-bearer.

The state chairmen of legacy parties that merged to form the APC explained that Emefiele’s candidature was necessary for the party to avoid political dangers ahead it. They maintained that the CBN Governor has widespread acceptability to return the ruling party to power at both the centre and state levels in the coming general election.

They charged the party leadership not only to draft Emefiele into the race but to also give him the necessary support to emerging the candidate if the party is indeed interested in winning the forthcoming presidential election.

Musa said, “We have keenly observed all the electioneering that has been going on in our great party ahead of the 2023 presidential elections.

“We have seen how bigwigs and moneybags in their 10s have been jostling for the only ticket available at our party.

“We are of the opinion that this unwieldy number of aspirants is not good enough for our party and its future.

“In searching for a way out in a manner that will be rancour-free and ensure electoral victory for us in 2023, we have come to the conclusion that our party should draft the CBN Governor into the race and give him all the institutional supports to lead APC to the 2023 contest.

“It is very clear that Emefiele’s candidacy is the best for our party because it will among other things it will not only lead us to victory, but his emergence as the next President will also see his administration continuing, consolidating and expanding the legacies of President Muhammdu Buhari.

“Our leaders must make this important choice quickly in the interest of the party, our nation and indeed all its citizens.”