I am not a member of any political party - Lauretta Onochie tells Senate

Presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie has denied involvement in partisan politics, telling the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) she does not belong to any political party. 

Onochie was screened as an INEC National Commissioner on Thursday despite public outcry over her nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“So, as I am sitting down here, I am not a member of any political party in this country,” Onochie told the lawmakers in Abuja, insisting that she stopped partisan politics after her principal won a second term in office in 2019.

“Since 2019, I have not had anything to do with any political organization in this country. Even the Buhari support organisations, I have not had anything to do with them since 2019,” Onochie who was nominated to represent Delta State, explained.

“So when APC decided to do a proper registration of their members and revalidate their membership, I did not take part in that exercise.”

President Buhari had in October nominated Onochie to serve as one of the National Commissioners for the electoral body.

The development has elicited massive outcry from members of the opposition and civil society organisations who claim she is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We call on your committee to reject the nomination of Onochie because she cannot be neutral or independent as she is factually known to be an unrepentant card-carrying member of the APC with an uncountable number of proofs,” leaders of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said in a letter to the National Assembly.

“Her confirmation will be a wholesome abuse of democratic tenets and dragging the reputation of the President and the Senate in the political mud.”

But Onochie who admitted that she had seen the petitions against her, claimed she follows due process in her dealings.