…Many Say She’s a Card Carrying APC Member, Uncouth, Unfit to be an Unbiased Umpire

The nomination of Ms Lauretta Onochie, senior special assistant on Social Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, as National Commissioner of the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) representing the South-South, may have suffered a major setback as the Senate leadership has asked the Presidency to reconsider her nomination, according to an exclusive report by thenigeriadaily.com reports.

The newspaper reported that the leadership of the Senate on Wednesday evening sent a memo to the Presidency on the request to confirm Onochie as an INEC commissioner.

“According to our source, the Senate enumerated reasons it cannot confirm Onochie, including that her nomination is unconstitutional considering her position as a card carrying member of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress,” the newpaper reported

Onochie’s appointment has run into some brick wall, with many Nigerians insisting that she is not qualified to be an election umpire.

It’s Unlawful

“It’s unlawful and an aberration,” says a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP, Kogi), positing that the President did not get the right advise from his numerous advisers who ought to have known better.

He said “without a doubt, her nomination which runs afoul of certain provisions of the Nigerian constitution, as well as breaking morality is yet another decision gaffe by the Presidency.

“It  is shocking, surprising and unbelievable that with the retinue of officials, aides and appointees with legal background and administrative competencies occupying strategic positions in government, none was able to advise and guide President Muhammadu Buhari appropriately to the effect that the nomination of Ms. Onochie will contravene Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); which forbids a partisan politician as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Penchant for Mudslinging

”It is baffling that Ms. Onochie, who has the unenviable record and penchant for engaging in needless tirades, uncouth language and unimaginable propensity for mudslinging; in her duties as presidential aide on social media, could be considered and nominated for a position that requires high level morality, unblemished maturity, unambiguous decorum and unparalleled decency.

“To a large extent, her nomination, unfortunately, is a glaring manifestation of how terribly low and abysmal governance has gone in Nigeria.

Deluge of Public Criticism

“One only hopes that with the deluge of public criticism that has welcomed her nomination, President Muhammadu Buhari, who perhaps may have been misguided, will take the necessary and immediate action by replacing her with another person whose nomination will not generate public condemnation and general ridicule.

“Also, if her nomination is driven by President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire to recognize and reward her commitment to work, loyalty and service, there are numerous positions and offices to deploy her to but not as National Commissioner in INEC; where such key positions should be reserved for non-partisan and independent minded persons,” the Kogi lawmaker said.

Speaking in the same vein, Human Rights Lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) said Onochie is not qualified to be INEC commissioner.

Appointment Violates Constitution

According to Falana, one of the criteria provided in the Constitution to determine who is fit for the position is that members of the INEC must not be partisan, a rule which he said Onochie is not compliant with.

Describing the presidential aide as an “unrepentant member” of the ruling party and one who has “consistently attacked members of other political parties, Falana said, “To that extent, she is partisan and therefore, not qualified to be a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission”.

President Buhari is seeking confirmation of Mrs Lauretta’s appointment as a National Commissioner for INEC, representing Delta State.

He made this known in a letter written to the Senate on Tuesday, which was later read by Senate President. Dr Ahmed Lawan at plenary.

The President is also seeking confirmation of the appointment of three others; Professor Mohammed Sani (Katsina); Professor Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), and Mr Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa).

No fewer than 14 Civil Society Organisations have also asked President Buhari to immediately withdraw Onochie’s nomination.

Nomination Did Not Sit Well

The group in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, said that the nomination did not sit well in the recent gains of the electoral system in the country.

The leaders of the civil societies, who signed the statement include Ms Faith Nwadishi, executive director, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre, Convener of Say No Campaign, Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, and the Executive Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Ms Idayat Hassan, among others.

The statement reads: “Whereas it has come to our notice the nomination of Lauretta Onochie by President Muhammadu Buhari as a National Commissioner of INEC, via a letter sent to the Senate leadership for screening and confirmation on Oct. 13.

“We completely reject this nomination, which does not sit well in the recent gains of the electoral system in the country.

“We, therefore, call on the President to withdraw this nomination with immediate effect and in the alternative, call on the Senate to act as gatekeepers by not confirming this appointment.

Erosion of Electoral Gains

“As civil society actors and veterans in election observation in the country, having contributed to the electoral gains in Nigeria, we condemn this nomination and affirm that this will erode the gains we have made in our electoral reforms.

“We are, therefore, troubled that Lauretta Onochie, a serving aide of the President who openly supports the President and his political party, has been nominated to the position of National Commissioner, INEC.

“Any INEC National commissioner should enjoy the trust and confidence of all parties concerned (Ruling and Opposition).

“Ms. Onochie failed this critical test with her several open confrontations with opposition elements through the media,” they argue.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also called on President Buhari to immediately withdraw Onochie’s.

Card Carrying APC Member

According to the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in a news conference, Onochie is a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ologbondiyan said that the nomination was against the nation’s constitution, democratic process and President’s public promises of leaving a legacy of credible elections.

The party claimed that Onochie is a card-carrying member of the APC from Ward 5 Onicha Olona, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta.

It contends that Onochie’s nomination is in clear violation of paragraph 14 of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“This section forbids a person involved in partisan politics to hold office as a member of INEC,” it said.

Executive Recklessness

Also condemning the nomination in strong terms, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) described “it as an executive recklessness, a dirty slap on the populace, and a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).”

A statement by its President, Rev. (Dr). Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle, says, “When President Muhammadu Buhari said he wanted to leave a legacy of free, fair and credible election behind, all right thinking Nigerians were happy and CAN has been praying for God to grant him the grace to do so. But the nomination of his personal aide to such a sensitive position may have revealed the type of electoral legacy the President is working on.

“We hereby call on the Senate to reject the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for these reasons:

Unfit as Unbiased Umpire

“According to Section 156 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) Act No 1, 2010, a member of the INEC “shall not be a member of a political party.” Whereas Onochie is reportedly said to be a card carrying member of the ruling party. That disqualifies her from being nominated and appointed to serve in INEC.

“Furthermore, although the President has power to appoint members of INEC whenever there are vacancies, he is expected to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in doing so. He is required to consult with the Council of State as stated in section 154 (3)  of the Constitution and we have no record that this had been done before forwarding Onochie’s name to the Senate.

“If this observation is correct, then the President erred in law by forwarding her name to the Senate as demanded by Section 154 (1) of the Constitution which says the appointment of the members of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Partisan Membership

“As far as CAN is concerned, Onochie suffers objectivity, justice and fairness that are mandatory for every member of INEC as a result of her partisan membership of a political party and by being an appointee of the ruling party. We are equally opposed to her nomination because of her unguarded remarks, public insults on credible individuals and the use of vulgar language and unprintable words against people who express their displeasure to some actions and policies of the government of the day, especially, her principal.

“Our Association and her leadership had been a victim of her unguarded statements since her appointment as the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media. A person like her by her utterances does not have the character to occupy a position of unbiased umpire in national elections in Nigeria.

“Additionally, CAN calls on the distinguished Senate to do a thorough investigation of other three nominees to ensure that they are truly qualified and competent for the appointment and that they do not belong to any political party. This would prevent unnecessary interference in the conduct of elections and ensure conduct of credible elections for our general good. It is shameful, disappointing, disheartening, unacceptable that our elections in recent years have been far from being free, fair and credible. This may not be far from the partiality of the election umpires, among others.

“We appeal to the Senate to save the nation from constitutional breach and crises during elections that can consume the nation.

“May God bless you richly as you allow the fear of God and the love of this country to guide you in this task. We give you assurances of our prayer support and our door is opened to the leadership and the membership of the National Assembly for godly counsel and prayers whenever you desire them,” CAN said.

EVAPWD Faulted Nomination

The Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons With Disabilities (EVAPWD), a non-governmental organisation, has also faulted the nomination of Onochie as INEC national commissioner.

Chairman of EVAPWD, Mr. David Anyaele, said in a statement issued to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday that the decision should be reversed in overriding public interest.

Anyaele noted that the group was highly worried on the nomination of Onochie, who had been a politically exposed person for over five years running.

“The EVAPWD is worried over the nomination of Lauretta Onochie, a foot soldier and senior sympathiser of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media as National Commissioner of INEC.

Honesty & Integrity

“The honesty and integrity of Onochie to serve as an INEC official is questionable as she has been very partisan in the last five years.

“Hence, Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) prohibits a person with questionable integrity from serving as a member of INEC,” he said.

The EVAPWD boss, however, called on the Senate to reject her nomination to avoid contamination of the successes recorded so far by INEC.

“The Senate should protect the election management body from political party influences,” he added.