Group Petition NASS Over Onochie’s Nomination as INEC commissioner

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has objected to the appointment of a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Lauretta Onochie, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the Senate in October last year seeking her confirmation and that of others as national commissioners of the nation’s electoral body.

Ms Lauretta Onochie is not only a member of the APC but also the special assistant to the president on Social media.

It is on the ground of her social media campaigns for the current administration and other alleged undemocratic behaviours that individuals and civic groups called on the president to withdraw her name from the list.

Disregarding public and civil groups agitations, the Senate, on June 9 set in motion the process of screening the Delta State-born-Onochie as INEC commissioner.

In a statement by its Director, Idayat Hassan, on Thursday, CDD said the appointment of Ms Onochie to serve in such a nonpartisan office could spell doom for Nigeria’s democratic principles if the Senate allowed it.

It asked the lawmakers to reject the nomination to save the country from further ridicule.

The Centre said it had petitioned the Senate highlighting the effects of such a move on INEC and the country’s electoral process at large if allowed to pass through the assembly.

“First, Ms Onochie is from Delta State, the same state from which Barrister May Agbamuche-Mbu, a current national commissioner, hails. Barrister Agbamuche-Mbu’s tenure is not ending until December 2021,” the Centre said.