Nigeria’s chief banker Emefiele to run for president

The governor of Nigeria’s central bank intends to run in next year’s presidential election.

Godwin Emefiele, 60, is seeking the nomination as a presidential candidate for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sources at the ruling party’s headquarters told the BBC he had bought a nomination form to contest the party’s primaries. It is unprecedented in Nigerian politics for a serving central bank chief to join the presidential race.

Among the other APC candidates are Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos state governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is among several candidates seeking the nomination for the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Nigeria’s political parties have until 3 June to choose their presidential candidates. The election is due to take place in February 2023.