Nigeria’s Senate has rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominee, Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Onochie was rejected following the consideration of the report of the Committee on INEC, chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano).
The Red Chamber also stood down the approval of Professor Sani Mohammed Adam till further legislative action.
The panel recommended Onochie’s disqualification as INEC National Commissioner because her nomination is in violation of Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution on the Principle of Federal Character.
The committee said there is currently a serving commissioner from Delta state, where Onochie hails from.
It would be recalled that Onochie’s nomination by President Buhari generated controversy across the country as many people said she is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Many Nigerians said Onochie’s nomination into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would put in jeopardy, the role of INEC as unbiased electoral umpire as many people also alleged APC of plot to rig 2023 general elections ahead of time.