By Emmanuel Nduka
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc, Abbas Umar Masanawa, has purchased N50 million All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship nomination and expression of interest forms ahead of the primaries for the 2023 elections.
Masanawa who is seeking to succeed Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari in 2023, oversees the printing of sensitive materials for the country including banknotes, postal orders of Nigeria, and some electoral materials for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
His acquisition of the forms comes days after INEC said the involvement of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele in politics was threatening the 2023 elections.
SaharaReporters had reported that Masanawa has refused to resign despite the resignation order given by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The man that mints the naira note has come out to say he is a member of the APC and also declared to run for governor. The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc actually prints some of our election materials. He is from Katsina, he has refused to resign just like his boss at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele,” a source told SaharaReporters.
The company, also referred to as The MINT, was established in 1963 by the Nigerian Government in partnership with De La Rue of the UK and is under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It began full operation in 1965, producing currency notes and coins for the CBN as well as a wide range of security documents for the government, commercial banks, and blue-chip companies, among others.
