Nigerian Senate screens Lauretta Onochie, others as INEC National Commissioners

The Nigerian Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, screened the screening of Lauretta Onochie and other nominees for appointment as National Commissioners of the electoral body.

Onochie, Special Assistant Digital and Social Media to the Nigerian President, had arrived the screen like others and went through the process successfully.

The nomination of Lauretta Onochie, had elicited criticism believed in patriots’ circles to be ostensibly orchestrated by legislative and other members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some civil society organizations that share their thought.

They were against her nomination on the grounds that she is aide to sitting President and when that failed they changed their excuse to her allegedly being card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying it is not proper for her to be appointed as an election officer.

The DEFENDER, in several of its publications, had reported many questions posted to the opponents to which they have been unable to provide an answer and which neutralised whatever claims against her nomination and confirmation.

There were also several lawyers and Nigerian women, who wrote protest letters to the Senate President on why the claims of those opposing Lauretta Onochie confirmation were insignificant and why she should therefore be confirmed against their wishes.

Nigerian women, in their physical and letter protests, particularly demanded that she should be screened or they would resist any move by any individual or group of people to block her from being confirmed.

The nine-month effort of opposition finally hit the rock Thursday 8 July, 2021 with Onochie’s screening Amin other nominees by the Senate Committee on INEC.

In her introductory remarks, Onochie said she is not partisan. She admitted that she had seen the petitions against her which are not only from the opposition but also from people in the APC.

She said the opposition to her candidacy is because she is known to be non-partisan and someone, who insists on due process and the right thing to be done.

However, Committee members questioned her stance on non-partisanship.

Senator Istifanus Gyang queried that one of the petitions against her has an affidavit affirming her membership of the APC.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu in his contribution said he is worried that her nomination is flouting the principle of Federal character.

Ekweremadu explained that there is a nominee already from Delta State, whose tenure will soon expire and that Lauretta is being nominated for the second slot for the South-South, which should go round the Southern states.

The controversial former Deputy, who is not from South South or Niger Delta but South East made case to say, however, the nomination means that for a second time the position is going again to Delta State to the exclusion of the other Niger Delta states.

Ekweremadu, expectedly, advised her to withdraw her nomination to preserve the integrity of President Buhari but he was swiftly countered as another senator readily shut the opposition Ekweremadu down.

In his contribution, Senator Lawal Gumau said there is nothing wrong with her nomination and maintained that all the petitions against her are sentiments.

In her response, Onochie explained that the INEC National Commissioner, who Senator Ekweremadu made reference to, is May Agbamuche Mgbu.

According to Onochie, Mgbu was nominated under her husband’s state – Cross River and not Delta State. She explained that since President Buhari won his second term, she has removed herself from all things political.

She maintained that from 2019 till date she has not had anything to do with any political organisation and did not partake in APC’s validation exercise.