On October 13, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari nominated one of
his aides, Lauretta Onochie and three others as commissioners in
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
![image](/2021/05/tellcom-Esq.jpg")
While the nominations, especially that of Onochie, generated
heated discussions, nothing has been heard on it again, making some
commentators to think that those nominated may be replaced.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
Apart from the chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmoud
Yakubu, there are 12 national commissioners that run the
administration of the electoral umpire.
Yakubu, whose first tenure ended on Monday, November 9, 2020,
was re-appointed as the chairman of the commission for a record
second term in office.
However, five national commissioners whose tenure expired and
are not eligible for re-appointment were Mrs Amina Bala Zakari
(Jigawa, North West) who had acted as INEC chairman before Yakubu
took over Professor Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine (Kogi,
North-Central); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (Borno, North-East); Dr
Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (Edo, South-South) and Prince Adedeji
Solomon Soyebi (Ogun, South-West).
There was also the voluntary retirement of Abubakar Ahmed
Nahuche, an engineer, thus leaving the electoral impire with six
vacant seats for national commissioners.
Apart from Yakubu as chairman of the commission, the remaining
six national commissioners are Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Mu’azu
(retd), Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu, Mrs
May Agbamuche-Mbu, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola; who were sworn in on
December 5, 2016, and Festus Okoye, a lawyer, who was sworn in on
July 21, 2018.
This may have prompted President Buhari’s nomination of his
Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, for
confirmation by the Senate as a national commissioner representing
Delta State.
Others nominated are Professor Mohammed Sani (Katsina),
Professor Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti) and Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa).
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on October 13, 2020, while reading
the president’s letter of request at plenary in the Senate, said
the nomination was pursuant to paragraph 14 of part 1F of the First
Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.
Delay dangerous for 2023 elections — CSOs
Members of civil society organisations who spoke with Daily
Trust were unanimous that President Buhari should respect the
provisions of Nigeria’s constitution and without delay, appoint the
right people as national commissioners of the INEC.
Speaking on the development, the executive director, Resource
Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim
M. Zikirullahi, told Daily Trust on Sunday that the issue of
vacancy at the level of INEC national commissioners is very
disturbing.
According to him, if the president is having difficulty in
finding the right candidates to fill the vacancies, he could
advertise the positions and let qualified people apply.
“To allow a vacuum in an institution very critical to our
democracy sends a worrisome signal. On the nomination of his aide,
which was roundly condemned, the president appears to imply that he
does not know people beyond his narrow circle in government. He
should broaden his horizon and ensure that the most competent
people are brought in to serve the country,” Zikirullahi said.
On her part, the director of programmes, Yiaga Africa, Cynthia
Mbamalu, told Daily Trust that the INEC was yet to be fully
constituted since some seats of some national commissioners are
vacant.
“The nomination of one of the aides to the president as
commissioner in the INEC shows a disregard for the rule of law on
the part of the president. In section 14(2) part 1, third schedule,
the constitution clearly requires non-partisanship, integrity and
independence as fundamental principles for the appointment of
commissioners into the electoral body.
“The National Assembly has the power to decline to confirm a
nominee who does not meet the required criteria to serve as
national commissioner. The lawmakers should have screened other
nominees who passed the test of non-partisanship and integrity
while waiting for a replacement for those who did not pass the
test.
“This delay has a severe impact on the operations of the INEC,
with just 21 months away from the 2023 elections. Concluding on
this appointment process is essential, considering the different
state-level elections to be conducted before 2023 and the roles
each national commissioner plays in the eco-system of election
administration and operations,” Mbamalu said.
She added that the appointment of the remaining commissioners
was crucial for a duly constituted INEC, which will ensure a
successful conduct of the 2023 elections.
She said, “It is crucial that the president reconsiders his
nomination and increases the number of women as national
commissioners, and subsequently, resident electoral
commissioners.’’
Commenting on the issue, the executive director, Civil Society
Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said
Nigerians had noted Onochie’s support for President Buhari and
other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She is,
therefore, generally regarded as partisan, thereby falling short of
one of the requirements of the Nigerian constitution for the
appointment of commissioners into the INEC.
“As calls for transparency in Nigeria’s electioneering processes
deepen, it is important for the president to spare the election
umpire from biased appointments. It is even more important for the
president to listen to voices of the civil society and the general
Nigerian citizenry to rescind the appointment of Onochie as INEC
commissioner. Failure to do this would have a negative effect on
citizens’ perception of the commission and its composition,”
Rafsanjani said.
No cause for alarm — INEC
Speaking on the situation, the chief press secretary to the INEC
chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said “The chairman and the six
national commissioners in place have ensured that the commission
does not suffer any harm in spite of not having the full complement
of commissioners. It is not an easy undertaking, but it is not
beyond the team.
“Indeed, the commission has, over the years, developed a unique
feature of adjusting itself in this kind of situation. This is not
the first time the commission is facing this type of scenario, but
it has always demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to survive
under pressure,” Oyekanmi said.
He, however, said the commission would be glad to have the
remaining six commissioners in place as soon as possible.
Presidency mum
When contacted, the Presidency kept mum on the decision of the
Senate not to confirm the nominees.
Senator Babajide Omoworare, the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), neither picked his
calls not replied a text message sent to him by our
correspondent.
A similar message sent to the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, after phone calls,
was not replied at the time of going to press.
Editors Note; Originally published in
Daily
Trust[1]
On October 13, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari nominated one of
his aides, Lauretta Onochie and three others as commissioners in
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While the nominations, especially that of Onochie, generated
heated discussions, nothing has been heard on it again, making some
commentators to think that those nominated may be replaced.
Apart from the chairman of the commission, Professor Mahmoud
Yakubu, there are 12 national commissioners that run the
administration of the electoral umpire.
Yakubu, whose first tenure ended on Monday, November 9, 2020,
was re-appointed as the chairman of the commission for a record
second term in office.
However, five national commissioners whose tenure expired and
are not eligible for re-appointment were Mrs Amina Bala Zakari
(Jigawa, North West) who had acted as INEC chairman before Yakubu
took over Professor Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine (Kogi,
North-Central); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (Borno, North-East); Dr
Mohammed Mustafa Lecky (Edo, South-South) and Prince Adedeji
Solomon Soyebi (Ogun, South-West).
There was also the voluntary retirement of Abubakar Ahmed
Nahuche, an engineer, thus leaving the electoral impire with six
vacant seats for national commissioners.
Apart from Yakubu as chairman of the commission, the remaining
six national commissioners are Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Mu’azu
(retd), Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu, Mrs
May Agbamuche-Mbu, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola; who were sworn in on
December 5, 2016, and Festus Okoye, a lawyer, who was sworn in on
July 21, 2018.
This may have prompted President Buhari’s nomination of his
Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, for
confirmation by the Senate as a national commissioner representing
Delta State.
Others nominated are Professor Mohammed Sani (Katsina),
Professor Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti) and Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa).
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on October 13, 2020, while reading
the president’s letter of request at plenary in the Senate, said
the nomination was pursuant to paragraph 14 of part 1F of the First
Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.
Delay dangerous for 2023 elections — CSOs
Members of civil society organisations who spoke with Daily
Trust were unanimous that President Buhari should respect the
provisions of Nigeria’s constitution and without delay, appoint the
right people as national commissioners of the INEC.
Speaking on the development, the executive director, Resource
Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim
M. Zikirullahi, told Daily Trust on Sunday that the issue of
vacancy at the level of INEC national commissioners is very
disturbing.
According to him, if the president is having difficulty in
finding the right candidates to fill the vacancies, he could
advertise the positions and let qualified people apply.
“To allow a vacuum in an institution very critical to our
democracy sends a worrisome signal. On the nomination of his aide,
which was roundly condemned, the president appears to imply that he
does not know people beyond his narrow circle in government. He
should broaden his horizon and ensure that the most competent
people are brought in to serve the country,” Zikirullahi said.
On her part, the director of programmes, Yiaga Africa, Cynthia
Mbamalu, told Daily Trust that the INEC was yet to be fully
constituted since some seats of some national commissioners are
vacant.
“The nomination of one of the aides to the president as
commissioner in the INEC shows a disregard for the rule of law on
the part of the president. In section 14(2) part 1, third schedule,
the constitution clearly requires non-partisanship, integrity and
independence as fundamental principles for the appointment of
commissioners into the electoral body.
“The National Assembly has the power to decline to confirm a
nominee who does not meet the required criteria to serve as
national commissioner. The lawmakers should have screened other
nominees who passed the test of non-partisanship and integrity
while waiting for a replacement for those who did not pass the
test.
“This delay has a severe impact on the operations of the INEC,
with just 21 months away from the 2023 elections. Concluding on
this appointment process is essential, considering the different
state-level elections to be conducted before 2023 and the roles
each national commissioner plays in the eco-system of election
administration and operations,” Mbamalu said.
She added that the appointment of the remaining commissioners
was crucial for a duly constituted INEC, which will ensure a
successful conduct of the 2023 elections.
She said, “It is crucial that the president reconsiders his
nomination and increases the number of women as national
commissioners, and subsequently, resident electoral
commissioners.’’
Commenting on the issue, the executive director, Civil Society
Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said
Nigerians had noted Onochie’s support for President Buhari and
other members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She is,
therefore, generally regarded as partisan, thereby falling short of
one of the requirements of the Nigerian constitution for the
appointment of commissioners into the INEC.
“As calls for transparency in Nigeria’s electioneering processes
deepen, it is important for the president to spare the election
umpire from biased appointments. It is even more important for the
president to listen to voices of the civil society and the general
Nigerian citizenry to rescind the appointment of Onochie as INEC
commissioner. Failure to do this would have a negative effect on
citizens’ perception of the commission and its composition,”
Rafsanjani said.
No cause for alarm — INEC
Speaking on the situation, the chief press secretary to the INEC
chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said “The chairman and the six
national commissioners in place have ensured that the commission
does not suffer any harm in spite of not having the full complement
of commissioners. It is not an easy undertaking, but it is not
beyond the team.
“Indeed, the commission has, over the years, developed a unique
feature of adjusting itself in this kind of situation. This is not
the first time the commission is facing this type of scenario, but
it has always demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to survive
under pressure,” Oyekanmi said.
He, however, said the commission would be glad to have the
remaining six commissioners in place as soon as possible.
Presidency mum
When contacted, the Presidency kept mum on the decision of the
Senate not to confirm the nominees.
Senator Babajide Omoworare, the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), neither picked his
calls not replied a text message sent to him by our
correspondent.
A similar message sent to the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, after phone calls,
was not replied at the time of going to press.
Editors Note; Originally published in
Daily
Trust[1]