Back to sender: Senate rejects Lauretta Onochie for INEC

Lauretta-Onochie

Lauretta Onochie

Lauretta Onochie rejected by senate
Lauretta Onochie rejected by senate

By Abankula

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Buhari had nominated her as a national commissioner last October, triggering a maelstrom of opposition.

Onochie is a new media aide of President Buhari and a member of the All Progressives Congress.

Kabiru Gaya, chairman of the committee that screened her and other nominees, presented a report to the senate plenary on Tuesday.

He said the Committee rejected the nomination of Onochie because there is already a National Commissioner of INEC.

He was referring to Mrs May Agbamuche, who represents Delta State in the Commission.

The Senate also stepped down the nomination of Professor Sani Mohammad Adam (North Central) to allow for further legislative action.

President Muhammadu Buhari wrote the Senate in October 2020, to confirm her and three others as Commissioners of INEC.

The nomination clearly flouted the rules governing appointment into INEC.

The Senate later gave an expanded explanation on why it rejected her nomination.

In a statement by Ezrel Tabiowo, media assistant to Senate President, Dr Lawan, the senate said the decision was because of her partisanship and breach of the federal character principle.

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The statement was titled: ‘Senate confirms five nominees as INEC Commissioners, rejects Lauretta Onochie’.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South) was quoted as saying the committee also received several petitions against her nomination.

Gaya explained the petitions bothered on her involvement in politics and alleged membership of a political party.

He explained further that her nomination violated the Federal Character Principle as there is already a serving National Electoral Commissioner from Delta State, Barr. Mary Agbamuche-Mbu who was screened and confirmed by the 8th Senate.

“In the case of Ms. Lauretta Onochie’s, having studied her curriculum vitae and other relevant documents, followed by exhaustive interaction around the petitions against her nomination which she responded to accordingly, including attesting that she is not a registered member of any political party,” Gaya said.

According to the lawmaker, the Committee bound by the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amendment) on Federal Character Principle, refused to recommend Onochie for confirmation.

“Therefore, based on the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) on Federal Character Principle as earlier stated, and in order for the Committee and the Senate to achieve fairness to other states and political zones in the country, the committee is unable to recommend Ms. Lauretta Onochie for confirmation as a National Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he explained.

However, the Senate confirmed five other nominees.

The Red Chamber also suspended the nomination of Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam (North Central) for further investigation by the committee.

Those confirmed include Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru (North-West), Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina), Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti), Dr. Baba Bila (North-East), and Saidu Babura Ahmad (Jigawa).

“Accordingly, the Senate while confirming the five nominees, adopted the recommendations of the Committee by rejecting Onochie’s nomination and stepping down that of Professor Adam for further action.”

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