Situation Room Asks Senate Panel Not To Confirm Onochie As INEC Commissioner

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has asked the senate
committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
reject Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as a commissioner of the
electoral body.

Onochie was nominated as an INEC commissioner by President
Muhammadu Buhari in October 2020.

Eight months after her nomination, Ahmad Lawan, senate
president, asked the committee on INEC to commence the screening
process.

Reacting to the development, Ene Obi, convener of Nigeria Civil
Society Situation Room, condemned Onochie’s nomination, saying she
is partisan and a “staunch member” of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC).

Quoting the 1999 constitution, Obi said section 156(1) forbids
“a member of a political party to be an appointee at INEC”.

“Her nomination amounts to a major attempt at undermining
efforts to build credibility for an improved electoral process in
the country,” Obi said in a statement released on Thursday.

“Situation Room calls on the Senate Committee on INEC to whom
the nomination was referred to by the Senate Plenary to recommend
her rejection as INEC National Commissioner.

“Situation Room also calls on the Senate to reaffirm the
integrity and independence of Nigeria’s Electoral System by
rejecting the nomination of Ms. Lauretta Onochie, as INEC National
Commissioner.

“Situation Room wishes to remind the Federal Government of the
State Resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC whose tenures runs
out at the end of the year, to begin to think of nominations of
persons within the set criteria.

“The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room again expresses
concern with the nomination of Ms. Lauretta Onochie, Senior Special
Assistant to the President on Social Media as National Commissioner
of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
representing the South-South.

“Ms. Onochie is a political appointee and staff of incumbent
President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress. Her
utterances, statements, demeanour and carriage has always conveyed
and communicated political bias and partisanship in support of the
ruling party APC. While we do not criticize her loyalty to her
party, we highlight that these traits are not suited for the
position of a non-partisan agency.

“Section 156(1) of the Constitution makes it mandatory that an
appointee at INEC shall not be a member of a Political Party. It is
immaterial that such a person in anticipation for appointment
quickly resigned his or her membership of a political party.

“Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999
Constitution of Nigeria forbids a partisan politician as a member
of INEC – a body charged under the Constitution to unbiasedly
conduct free and fair elections. The claim of partisanship is
glaring and has been exhibited orally and in writing.”

Obi added that Onochie’s confirmation “will jeopardize the
integrity of our electoral process and reduce the trust both
domestic and international stakeholders have built over time in our
election management body”.

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has asked the senate
committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to
reject Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as a commissioner of the
electoral body.

Onochie was nominated as an INEC commissioner by President
Muhammadu Buhari in October 2020.

Eight months after her nomination, Ahmad Lawan, senate
president, asked the committee on INEC to commence the screening
process.

Reacting to the development, Ene Obi, convener of Nigeria Civil
Society Situation Room, condemned Onochie’s nomination, saying she
is partisan and a “staunch member” of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC).

Quoting the 1999 constitution, Obi said section 156(1) forbids
“a member of a political party to be an appointee at INEC”.

“Her nomination amounts to a major attempt at undermining
efforts to build credibility for an improved electoral process in
the country,” Obi said in a statement released on Thursday.

“Situation Room calls on the Senate Committee on INEC to whom
the nomination was referred to by the Senate Plenary to recommend
her rejection as INEC National Commissioner.

“Situation Room also calls on the Senate to reaffirm the
integrity and independence of Nigeria’s Electoral System by
rejecting the nomination of Ms. Lauretta Onochie, as INEC National
Commissioner.

“Situation Room wishes to remind the Federal Government of the
State Resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC whose tenures runs
out at the end of the year, to begin to think of nominations of
persons within the set criteria.

“The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room again expresses
concern with the nomination of Ms. Lauretta Onochie, Senior Special
Assistant to the President on Social Media as National Commissioner
of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
representing the South-South.

“Ms. Onochie is a political appointee and staff of incumbent
President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress. Her
utterances, statements, demeanour and carriage has always conveyed
and communicated political bias and partisanship in support of the
ruling party APC. While we do not criticize her loyalty to her
party, we highlight that these traits are not suited for the
position of a non-partisan agency.

“Section 156(1) of the Constitution makes it mandatory that an
appointee at INEC shall not be a member of a Political Party. It is
immaterial that such a person in anticipation for appointment
quickly resigned his or her membership of a political party.

“Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999
Constitution of Nigeria forbids a partisan politician as a member
of INEC – a body charged under the Constitution to unbiasedly
conduct free and fair elections. The claim of partisanship is
glaring and has been exhibited orally and in writing.”

Obi added that Onochie’s confirmation “will jeopardize the
integrity of our electoral process and reduce the trust both
domestic and international stakeholders have built over time in our
election management body”.