Coalition Petitions Senate, Says Onochie’s Nomination Unconstitutional

A coalition of civil society groups has petitioned the Senate
opposing the appointment of a Special Assistant to the President
Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie as a National
Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).

In the petition dated June 16 and addressed to the Senate
President, Ahmad Lawan and Chairman of the Senate Committee on
INEC, Kabiru Gaya, the coalition listed several grounds against
Onochie’s nomination.

Among others, the petition was signed by Yiaga Africa, Peering
Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), International
Press Centre (IPC), Premium Times Centre for Investigative
Journalism (PTCIJ,), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD),
CLEEN Foundation and Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD).

it noted that the nomination of a Nigerian as a National
Commissioner to the Independent National Electoral Commission “is
governed by Section 154(3), 156(1a), Third Schedule, Item F
Paragraph 14(2a) and 14(3b) of the 1999 Constitution (As
Amended).

“A combined reading of the stated constitutional provisions
demands that, first, the President before appointing an individual
as INEC national commissioner must consult the Council of State
before forwarding the nomination to the Senate for
confirmation.

“The fundamental question is whether the President consulted
with the Council of State before submitting to the Senate a letter
nominating Onochie as INEC’s National Commissioner? A confirmation
by the Senate without the input of the State Council is
unconstitutional.”

The coalition, also, said constitution mandated that a person
nominated “as an INEC National Commissioner should be non-partisan.
Section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria clearly prohibits the appointment of any person, who is
a member of a political party as a member of INEC.”

According to the coalition, to further ensure the neutrality of
the members of INEC, “the Constitution clearly mandates in the
Third Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1) that a National
Commissioner shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable
integrity.

“Onochie is not only a card-carrying member of the ruling All
Progressive Congress (APC), and a Special Assistant to President
Buhari on social media, she is also notorious for her partisan,
biased and in some instances inflammatory comments on national
issues targeted at perceived or imagined enemies of the Buhari
government.”

Given her antecedents, however, the coalition noted that it was
highly unlikely that she would remain neutral and objective if
successfully screened as one of INEC’s National Commissioners.
It said: “We contend that her appointment will greatly undermine
the neutrality and impartiality of the Independent National
Electoral Commission and it will increase mistrust in the INEC and
Nigeria’s electoral process.

“By the combined effect of Section 156 (1)(a) and Third
Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1), Onochie is
constitutionally prohibited from any appointment as a member of the
electoral umpire. It is against the sacred spirit of our
Constitution to accept her nomination.”

The coalition said requirement was that a person nominated as
INEC’s National Commissioner should be “a person of unquestionable
integrity. Unfortunately, Onochie lacks the integrity to serve as
INEC’s National Commissioner due to her previous antics on social
media.

“In addition to using her social media platform to express her
loyalty to the ruling All Progressive Party (APC), she peddles
propaganda and misinformation regularly.

“There are several documented evidence of written attacks,
social media altercations, and unfounded, malicious allegations
against individuals or groups by the nominee in a manner that
clearly shows partisanship and questionable character.

“In addition, a February 2019 media analysis by Premium Times on
individuals/accounts using fake news as campaign strategies online,
revealed and identified Mrs. Lauretta Onochie as one of the
Nigerian politicians, who used fake news as campaign strategies
online.”

In view of these, the coalition urged the Senate to “Completely
reject the nomination of Mrs. Lauretta Onochie as a National
Commissioner into the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).

The coalition, also, urged President Buhari to withdraw her
nomination in the public interest and in furtherance of his
commitment to leave a legacy of a truly independent electoral
institution that enjoys the trust and confidence of citizens and
electoral stakeholders.

It, equally, requested the president “to uphold the federal
character principle in re-nominating a non-partisan, neutral, and
competent Nigerian to represent the South-south as INEC National
Commissioner as well as requests the President to uphold the
principle of diversity by ensuring gender inclusion in the
nomination of non-partisan and competent Nigerians as INEC National
Commissioners.”

A coalition of civil society groups has petitioned the Senate
opposing the appointment of a Special Assistant to the President
Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie as a National
Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).

In the petition dated June 16 and addressed to the Senate
President, Ahmad Lawan and Chairman of the Senate Committee on
INEC, Kabiru Gaya, the coalition listed several grounds against
Onochie’s nomination.

Among others, the petition was signed by Yiaga Africa, Peering
Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), International
Press Centre (IPC), Premium Times Centre for Investigative
Journalism (PTCIJ,), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD),
CLEEN Foundation and Centre for Citizens with Disability (CCD).

it noted that the nomination of a Nigerian as a National
Commissioner to the Independent National Electoral Commission “is
governed by Section 154(3), 156(1a), Third Schedule, Item F
Paragraph 14(2a) and 14(3b) of the 1999 Constitution (As
Amended).

“A combined reading of the stated constitutional provisions
demands that, first, the President before appointing an individual
as INEC national commissioner must consult the Council of State
before forwarding the nomination to the Senate for
confirmation.

“The fundamental question is whether the President consulted
with the Council of State before submitting to the Senate a letter
nominating Onochie as INEC’s National Commissioner? A confirmation
by the Senate without the input of the State Council is
unconstitutional.”

The coalition, also, said constitution mandated that a person
nominated “as an INEC National Commissioner should be non-partisan.
Section 156(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria clearly prohibits the appointment of any person, who is
a member of a political party as a member of INEC.”

According to the coalition, to further ensure the neutrality of
the members of INEC, “the Constitution clearly mandates in the
Third Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1) that a National
Commissioner shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable
integrity.

“Onochie is not only a card-carrying member of the ruling All
Progressive Congress (APC), and a Special Assistant to President
Buhari on social media, she is also notorious for her partisan,
biased and in some instances inflammatory comments on national
issues targeted at perceived or imagined enemies of the Buhari
government.”

Given her antecedents, however, the coalition noted that it was
highly unlikely that she would remain neutral and objective if
successfully screened as one of INEC’s National Commissioners.
It said: “We contend that her appointment will greatly undermine
the neutrality and impartiality of the Independent National
Electoral Commission and it will increase mistrust in the INEC and
Nigeria’s electoral process.

“By the combined effect of Section 156 (1)(a) and Third
Schedule, Part 1, Item F, paragraph 14 (1), Onochie is
constitutionally prohibited from any appointment as a member of the
electoral umpire. It is against the sacred spirit of our
Constitution to accept her nomination.”

The coalition said requirement was that a person nominated as
INEC’s National Commissioner should be “a person of unquestionable
integrity. Unfortunately, Onochie lacks the integrity to serve as
INEC’s National Commissioner due to her previous antics on social
media.

“In addition to using her social media platform to express her
loyalty to the ruling All Progressive Party (APC), she peddles
propaganda and misinformation regularly.

“There are several documented evidence of written attacks,
social media altercations, and unfounded, malicious allegations
against individuals or groups by the nominee in a manner that
clearly shows partisanship and questionable character.

“In addition, a February 2019 media analysis by Premium Times on
individuals/accounts using fake news as campaign strategies online,
revealed and identified Mrs. Lauretta Onochie as one of the
Nigerian politicians, who used fake news as campaign strategies
online.”

In view of these, the coalition urged the Senate to “Completely
reject the nomination of Mrs. Lauretta Onochie as a National
Commissioner into the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).

The coalition, also, urged President Buhari to withdraw her
nomination in the public interest and in furtherance of his
commitment to leave a legacy of a truly independent electoral
institution that enjoys the trust and confidence of citizens and
electoral stakeholders.

It, equally, requested the president “to uphold the federal
character principle in re-nominating a non-partisan, neutral, and
competent Nigerian to represent the South-south as INEC National
Commissioner as well as requests the President to uphold the
principle of diversity by ensuring gender inclusion in the
nomination of non-partisan and competent Nigerians as INEC National
Commissioners.”