The nomination of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media Ms. Lauretta Onochie as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, representing the South-South has begun to generate some reactions.
The Campaign for Equal Voting Access for persons with Disabilities (EVAPWD) has joined others to lend it’s voice against the nomination.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, David Anyaele, the group expressed worry over the nomination of a foot soldier and senior sympathizer of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as INEC National Commissioner, South-South.
The group believes the honesty and integrity of Ms. Onochie to serve as INEC official is questionable as she has been very partisan in the last 5 years. Hence, it says Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) prohibits a person with questionable integrity from serving as a member of INEC.
The group calls on the Nigeria Senate to reject her nomination to avoid contamination of the successes recorded so far by INEC and protect the election management body from political party influences.
President Muhammadu Buhari had asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of Ms. Onochie, and two others as National Commissioners of INEC representing Delta State.
Other nominees are, Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah, National Electoral Commissioner, Katsina; Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi, National Electoral Commissioner, Ekiti; and Saidu Babura Ahmad, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Jigawa.