The Senate on Tuesday rejected the nomination of President Muhammadu Buhari’s media aide, Lauretta Onochie, as Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC national commissioner.
The Senate took the decision after the adoption of the report by Committee on INEC, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya.
The committee said her nomination contravenes federal character principles as contained in Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the committee, there is currently a serving commissioner of INEC from Delta State, where Ms Onochie came from.
Ms Onochie’s alleged partisanship has generated a stiff opposition to her nomination, with many Nigerians calling for her rejection.
Recall that Mr Buhari had written to the Senate, seeking the confirmation of six nominees as national commissioners of INEC in accordance with paragraph 14 Part I(F) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The names of the nominees for screening include: Professor Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina); Lauretta Onochie (Delta); Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti); Saidu Babura Ahmad (Jigawa); Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam (North-Central); and Dr. Baba Bila (North-East).
