By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Senate has declined the confirmation of Lauretta Onochie as a Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The rejection is consequent upon the report by the Senate Committee on INEC, headed by Senator Kabir Gaya who said her nomination breached Federal Character principles.
Kabir Gaya cited Section 14 (1) 3 of the Constitution, stating that somebody was already a Commissioner from her zone, and the law remains clear about that.
The submission of Onochie’s name to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation as INEC Commissioner attracted wide criticisms from many groups, individuals and Civil Society Organisations.
They opposed her nomination on ground that she is a card carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which is against the provision of the Constitution which prescribe that INEC Commissioners should be nonpartisan.
Those opposed to her confirmation include Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), some members of the APC, particularly from her State and most recently, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Atahiru Jega.
They argued that Lauretta Onochie will be biased in favour of APC in the discharge of her duties as INEC Commissioner.
Besides Onochie, the Senate also stepped down nomination of Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam (North Central) for further investigation by the committee.
In his presentation, Senator Gaya said the Committee received several petitions against the nominations of Onochie and Professor Adam.
He disclosed that the petitions against Lauretta Onochie were against the backdrop of her involvement in politics and alleged membership of a political party.
He explained further that her nomination violated the Federal Character Principle as there is already a serving National Electoral Commissioner from Delta State, Barr. Mary Agbamuche-Mbu who was screened and confirmed by the 8th Senate.
“In the case of Ms. Lauretta Onochie’s, having studied her curriculum vitae and other relevant documents, followed by exhaustive interaction around the petitions against her nomination which she responded to accordingly, including attesting that she is not a registered member of any political party”, Gaya said.
According to the lawmaker, the Committee bound by the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amendment) on Federal Character Principle, refused to recommend Onochie for confirmation.
“Therefore, based on the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) on Federal Character Principle as earlier stated, and in order for the Committee and the Senate to achieve fairness to other states and political zones in the country, the committee is unable to recommend Ms. Lauretta Onochie for confirmation as a National Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission”, he explained.
On the nomination of Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam, the committee recommended that his confirmation be stepped down pending further legislative action by the committee.
Meanwhile, the Senate confirmed the appointment of five nominees.
Those confirmed include Professor Abdullahi Abdu Zuru (North-West), Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina), Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti), Dr. Baba Bila (North-East), and Saidu Babura Ahmad (Jigawa).