Earlier today, President Buhari sought Senates confirmation of four nominees for appointment as commissioners of INEC – the electoral body responsible for overseeing elections in Nigeria.
The list of nominees included the presidents special aide on social media Lauretta Onochie, Muhaamad Sani, Kunle Cornelius Ajayi and Seidu Ahmad.
Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! #TodayInSenatePlenary pic.twitter.com/V7PR2E3IY7
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2020
After receiving the news, Nigerians have refused to accept one of the nominees, Lauretta Onochie as a commissioner of INEC.
A twitter user wrote that “the integrity of Onochie, an aide of Pres. Buhari, is questionable for her clear partisanship and being a card carrying member of the APC. INEC commissioners should be independent and not partisan. This shameful recommendation must be rejected by the Senate.”
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”.
— FESTUS OGUN (@mrfestusogun) October 13, 2020
Lauretta Onochie is well known on twitter for engaging in tweet battles. The most recent one was with Afrobeats star Wizkid, where she called him a “dumb kid” after he referred to the president as an “old man”.
“Lauretta Onochie, a woman whose utterances are unbecoming of a government aide is warming up to be given new wings to fly wild. @MBuhari please don’t we have better heads in Nigeria…” another user wrote.
Lauretta Onochie’s appointment as INEC Commissioner negates section 14 of Part 1 of Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. It should be rejected expeditiously.
— Bayo Jimoh (@bayorjimoh) October 13, 2020
In the spirit of exercising their rights, this is how Nigerians are reacting to the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a commissioner of INEC.
Lauretta Onochie ,a woman whose utterances are unbecoming of a government aide is warming up to be given new wings to fly wild. @MBuhari please don’t we have better heads in Nigeria…
— Kassandra Ugochukwu (@KassandraUgoch1) October 13, 2020
Distinguished Senators, as a NON-PARTISAN citizen of this country, it’s necessary to call the attention of the Senate to one of the nominees for the position of of REC INEC. The Distinguished Senate will agree that for us to strengthen our electoral process, members of INEC /1
— SEUN ADEBOGA (@SEUNBOGA) October 13, 2020
@Laurestar is so partisan that it blinds everyone that looks at her. Sir @MBuhari l believe that as a leader, you will always try to be objective. This woman can not be trusted to do same. Please give her other assignments where her talents can be well harness. But not in INEC
— Henrietta Otoabasi-A (@Hotoabasi) October 13, 2020
How on Earth do you make an APC card carrying member and a President’s aide as an INEC Commissioner?
How long will it take to fix what this government is destroying?! ???— Mr Zeal (@zealOhafia1) October 13, 2020