Nigerians, PDP react as Senate rejects Lauretta Onochie for INEC role

Emmanuel AmudaJuly 13, 2021

4 minutes read

Nigerians and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have reacted to Lauretta Onochie for rejecting the nomination of the presidential aide as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission by the Senate.

On Tuesday morning, the Nigerian Senate declined Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Onochie’s non-confirmation followed the report by the Senate Committee on (INEC), Senator Kabir Gaya who said her nomination breaches Federal Character principles.

Kabir Gaya cited Section 14 (1) 3 of the Constitution, stating that somebody was already a Commissioner from her zone, and the law remains clear about that.

The Upper house while confirming Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah, (Katsina), Prof. Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa), Dr Baba Bila (North-East) and Prof. Abdullahi Zuru (North-West) said it was against the Federal Character Principle to have two persons from the same state as INEC National Commissioner.

Committee Chairman, Kabiru Gaya cited the presence of Mrs May Agbamuche Mbu from Delta, as a National Commissioner of INEC, as a reason for her rejection.

Reacting, the PDP applauded the Senate for declining the confirmation of Lauretta Onochie for appointment as National Commissioner representing Delta State, at the INEC.

In a statement titled, ‘INEC: Onochie’s Rejection At Senate Is Victory For Nigerians, Democracy- PDP’ and signed by National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the rejection of Onochie saved Nigeria from a serious crisis that may befall the country in the 2023 general elections.

The statement read in part, “The PDP asserts that the rejection of Lauretta Onochie by Nigerians has saved the nation from a very serious crisis as well as salvaged INEC and the entire Nigerian electoral process from ruinous pollution that would have led to the collapse of our democratic order.

“The party asserts that Onochie’s vexatious nomination, in a total affront to paragraph 14 of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was a very dangerous machination by the Buhari-led APC Presidency against our electoral process, in the attempt to subvert the will of the people in the 2023 elections.

“The APC (All Progressives Congress), in spite of its shenanigans, is aware that it will have difficulties winning election at any level in a free, fair and credible election and as such it is determined to rig every process ahead of the 2023 elections.

“Our party, therefore, commends Nigerians including civil society organizations, the media as well as other political parties, for joining forces with the PDP in fighting for the sanctity of our electoral process by resisting Onochie’s nomination.”

However, the Concerned Nigerians Group and the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria have commended the 9th Senate for rejecting the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Concerned Nigerians Group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Theophilus Abuh Agada, commended this move by the Senate.

It noted that the nomination of Onochie, a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress and special assistant to the president as INEC commissioner is an aberration and mockery of Nigeria’s democracy.

“We commend the Nigerian Senate for showing extraordinary courage in rejecting the nomination of Onochie as INEC commissioner. INEC is an independent institution, and the candidacy of Onochie negates the principle upon which the body was established.

“Onochie is not just partisan; she has proven over time to be a paid hack of the ruling party. Her demonstrable actions in defending the president and politicians elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress will affect her sense of judgment in discharging her duties as an INEC commissioner.” the group said.

The group stated that an INEC commissioner ought to be someone with no questionable character but with proven integrity.

It also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the amended electoral bill to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and ensure transparency and credibility in elections.

“If the President means well for Nigeria and he is concerned about the quality of leaders elected into different offices, he should sign the amended electoral bill rather than appointing an aide of questionable integrity that will help him and his party rig elections.

“In the same vein, we call on the National Assembly not to reverse the gains we have made in our electoral process by banning the electronic transmissions of results.

” The ruling All Progressives Congress succeeded in 2015 in assuming power because of the innovative introduction of a card reader. The National Assembly must continue to support creative ideas by INEC, which will help the commission conduct free, credible and transparent elections.

“Finally, we call on the Inspector General of Police to begin immediate prosecution of Lauretta Onochie for brazenly lying under oath.”

The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria also lauded the Senate’s rejection of the nomination of Onochie, describing it as a victory for democracy and confirmation of the Independence of the National Assembly.

In a statement by its President, Isah Abubakar, the group stated those who badly counseled President Buhari to make such nominations had better “desist from misleading him or risked facing the anger of Northern youths.”

The Council admonished the leaders of the National Assembly and other Legislative wings to continue to put Nigeria’s Democracy first above party and individual sentiments.

It said, “Without democracy, the Senate President would have been handling chalk in the classroom, or Mr. Speaker would have been busy in court without the hope of occupying the sensitive positions democracy afforded them. This also applies to other members of the National Assembly.”

The group further urged them to ensure that they safeguard democracy for the future generation so that their children would benefit from it too.

KEYWORDS: Lauretta Onochie, INEC,PDP, Senate