Senate rejects Buhari's aide as INEC commissioner, gives reasons

Presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie's nomination as an INEC commissioner has hit a dead-end

Hopes of Lauretta Onochie, President Buhari's aide on social media, joining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a commissioner, have been dashed.

The Nation reports on Sunday, December 13 that senators on the committee screening candidates for the position of INEC commissioners agreed that the outspoken presidential aide was too partisan for the job.

Although senators of the ruling party applauded her consistent backing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the activities of the presidency, they admitted that an INEC commissioner was the wrong appointment for her.

The daily newspaper also quoted an unnamed senate source as saying that the outcry against Onochie's appointment also did not help her situation.

The senator said:

“We do not begrudge her for standing by her conviction. But in the light of…, she cannot be a National Commissioner for INEC. A nominee cannot profess bias for politics or any party.“To avoid heating up the Senate and a likely conflict with the Presidency, we decided to ‘step down’ her confirmation."Legit.ng reported in October that President Buhari nominated Onochie for screening and confirmation as a national commissioner of INEC in her home state, Delta.

Senate president, Ahmad Lawan had read Buhari’s letter of request at plenary on Tuesday, October 13.

The president also nominated Professor Mohammed Sani representing Katsina; Professor Kunle Ajayi representing Ekiti state and Seidu Ahmed representing Jigawa state for confirmation as national commissioners of INEC.

Onochie's nomination has been roundly condemned by opposition federal lawmakers, popular human rights lawyer Femi Falana and PDP as well as Sokoto state governor among others.

The APC, on its part, hailed the presidential aide's nomination.

The ruling party frowned at the criticisms over the president's action, saying:

“It has been subject to rash, subjective, misplaced and selective criticism by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some interest groups.” Mu'azu takes over INEC as Prof Yakubu awaits Senate confirmation | Legit TV