Nigerian Senate on Tuesday rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The rejection on Tuesday is said to have followed the massive outcry that has trailed her nomination, especially from  Civil Society Organisations, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and other Nigerians who claim she is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

But the Chairman of the Committee, Kabiru Gaya, APC, Kano South, in his report, claimed Onochie did not satisfy the provisions of the Federal Character principles and the Senate took the decision to adhere strictly to the Federal Character Act. The Upper Chamber said that she is from Delta and the state has May Agbamuche who is the Chairman, Legal Services, INEC. 

President Muhammadu Buhari had written to the Senate in October 2020, to confirm the appointment of Onochie who is currently his media aide on Social Media, and three others as Commissioners of INEC.

In her introductory remarks during her screening last Thursday, Onochie, however, insisted she is not partisan.

While noting that she had seen the petitions against her which were not only from the opposition but also from people in the APC, she said it was because she is known to be non-partisan and someone who insists on due process.

Onochie, however, insisted that since President Buhari won his second term, she has removed herself from all things political.

According to her, from 2019 till date she has not had anything to do with any political organisation and did not partake in APC’s recent validation exercise.

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