A cross-section of Nigerians has faulted the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to name his aide, Lauretta Onochie as a Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Onochie who hails from Delta State was named alongside three others and for confirmation by the senate in line with the laws that set up the electoral umpire.
Part of the letter was read by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan on Tuesday at the plenary.
However, Nigerians say the decision to appoint Onochie was too partisan, stressing that the Senate should stop her confirmation.
Reactions DAILY POST gathered from tweets reads:
@MatthewTPage: ”
Lauretta Onochie is one of the most partisan people in Nigerian public life today. Appointing a take-no-prisoners party spokesperson to serve as a guardian of Nigeria’s non-partisan electoral commission is, in my view, utterly negligent and will be incredibly damaging.”
@AbdulMahmud01: ”
Who knows the twitter handle of the Minority Leader of the Senate, Sen Abaribe?
“Lauretta Onochie’s nomination MUST be blocked. It is offensive and damn partisan.”
@mrfestusogun: ”
The appointment of Lauretta Onochie as INEC Commissioner is unconstitutional, undemocratic and ridiculous. Section 14 of Part 1 of Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution provides that a person to be appointed as INEC commissioner must be a person of “unquestionable integrity”.
@bulamabukarti: ”
Appointing Lauretta Onochie to INEC is a contradiction in terms. How’ll you nominate a staunch member of a political party to a body that is supposed to be independent and will make decisions affecting her party? The Senate should reject her and all others affiliated to a party.”
@skin_herball: ”
If we don’t remove that lauretta onochie as inec commissioner, we will never be able to elect a right leader come 2023. They will rig this election.”
@ng(Affidavit): “Lauretta Onochie is too partisan to be seen anywhere near the INEC, she should remain as Buhari’s SA, or even fired. Meanwhile #SARMUSTEND.”
@Aisha_Yesufuu: ”
So even in the middle of a severe Protest, Buhari still appointed Lauretta Onochie INEC commissioner? A woman whose utterances are unbecoming of a government aide is warming up to be given new wings to fly wild. @MBuhari. You should have done better because we have better heads!”
