The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it will not refund the N100 million paid for the presidential nomination form rejected by Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s governor.

“Forms purchased are not refundable. Period. It’s traditional for political parties across the world that once you have paid for nomination forms, you cannot come back and ask for a refund,” APC spokesperson Felix Morka told Peoples Gazette Sunday evening.

Mr Emefiele came under intense public ridicule since The Gazette broke the news on Friday that he had purchased the presidential nomination form of the ruling party.

Amid harsh criticisms from Nigerians, the CBN governor distanced himself from the 2023 presidency, stressing that a group of farmers used their personal funds to purchase the form on his behalf.

“I am humbled by the growing interest of those asking that I run for the office of president in the 2023 general elections. I have not come to that decision,” Mr Emefiele tweeted on Saturday.

Mr Emefiele is seen by his critics as President Muhammadu Buhari’s lapdog and was recently endorsed by unknown gunmen as their presidential hopeful. 

Governors Aminu Tambuwal, his political party PDP and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of APC condemned Mr Emefiele’s presidential ambition, describing it as fraudulent, and calling for the CBN governor’s resignation.

Early April, Mr Emefiele took delivery of his campaign vehicles ahead of the 2023 general elections. Several cars branded with the CBN governor’s pictures, adorning traditional outfits of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, were seen by The Gazette. 

On March 26, campaign posters publicising Mr Emefiele as a presidential aspirant of APC flooded Eagle Square during the party’s national convention in Abuja.

Mr Emefiele enjoys the support of members of the Igbo ethnic group who believe his tenure as the nation’s central bank governor qualifies him to be Nigeria’s next president.

His rejection of the presidential form purchased on his behalf had raised questions among Nigerians about whether the APC would refund him.

The APC has the most expensive nomination and expression of interest forms among the 18 registered parties. PDP’s presidential nomination form costs N40 million. While APC governorship forms cost N50 million, PDP sells its governorship forms for N21 million.