Nigerias central bank governor to seek ruling party ticket to run for president

　　div classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodivpBy Felix Onuahp

　　pABUJA Reuters – Nigerian central bank governor Godwin Emefiele will seek the ruling All Progressives Party APC ticket to run for president next February, a ruling party spokesperson said on Friday.pdivdivdiv classBodysc17zpet90 cdBBJodiv

　　pPresident Muhammadu Buhari will step down after serving two fouryear terms following a February 2023 ballot. His ruling APC has set its primaries to decide on their presidential candidate for May 3031.

　　pEmefiele will go headtohead with current Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos state governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who are frontrunners in the race to be the next candidate to head Africas top economy.

　　p“I can confirm that central bank governor bought the APC presidential form today,” the APC spokesperson said, referring to forms to contest for the partys nomination.p

　　pA central bank spokesperson did not return calls on whether Emefiele would stay on as central bank governor.p

　　pPolitical parties in Nigeria should pick presidential candidates by June 3, according to the electoral commission, while official campaigning will begin in September.p

　　pEmefiele is serving a second term at the central bank where he has pursued dovish policies on interest rates, introduced currency controls and launched a company to help build infrastructure in Nigeria, Africas most populous nation.p

　　pThe exZenith Bank chief executive has tried to avoid a large currency devaluation that is frustrating foreign investors stuck in Nigeria at the height of a recession triggered by the COVID19 pandemic.p

　　pPolitical power in Nigeria tends to shift between the oilrich, largely Christian south and the poorer, mostly Muslim north. Buhari is from northern Katsina state and APCs next candidate is expected to come from the south.p

　　pSome questioned whether Emefiele will be able to remain at the helm of the central bank while pursuing his political ambitions which would require a strong coalition of supporters with deep pockets to take on opponents.

　　“Is his position as central bank governor still tenable？,” one economist, who is a consultant to the central bank and declined to be named.

　　pNews of Emefieles presidential bid sent the naira close to a record low of 591 per dollar on the black market, against a range of 413 to 417 naira on the official market where it has traded this year.

　　Reporting by Felix Onuah Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha Editing by James Macharia Chege and Raissa Kasolowsky

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