By The Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed why it rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie, presidential aide, as a commissioner of the electoral body.
Onochie is the Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media.
Recall the senate, during a plenary session on Tuesday, refused to confirm her nomination, following the report by the Senator Kabir Gaya-led committee.
Gaya said they would not recommend the confirmation of Onochie, saying it breaches Federal Character principles because May Agbamuche, a commissioner from Delta state, is still serving at the commission and she hails from the same state as Onochie.
Concerns that she is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) aroused controversy, but the presidential aide declared she resigned her membership in the ruling party in 2019 — a claim later proven to be incorrect.
Various civil society organizations have also demonstrated against Onochie’s nomination.
Speaking with reporters, Gaya explained that his committee was unable to confirm her because Agbamuche is still serving, adding that they studied the mood of Nigerians.
“We studied the mood of Nigerians. We could not approve the appointment of Onochie because she is from the same state as an INEC commissioner from Delta State, Mrs Agbamuche-Mbu, whose tenure may expire by December this year,” he said.
“Agbamuche-Mbu is still serving in INEC till December this year. That’s why we cannot clear another candidate from the state.
He added: “Also, during her confirmation by the 8th Senate, I was there when two senators from Delta, Messrs Ovie Omo-Agege and James Manager, stood up to congratulate the Senate for confirming her.
“We also got records from the past senate screening that Agbamuche-Mbu was a nominee from Delta state.”
