Senators are not about to back pedal in their opposition to the nomination of the President’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), The Nation gathered last night.

Senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are understood to have joined forces to stop the nomination of Onochie.

Some senators have also received video clips of interviews granted by Onochie from some interest groups to back up their opposition to her nomination.

Lobbyists are having a tough time trying to convince the lawmakers to accept Onochie’s nomination for the South-South slot.

In deference to the President, senators have made an informal representation to some principal officers to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to present a new candidate from the South-South.

But some governors have stepped in to save Onochie who they claimed has been doing only media job.

Buhari had on October 13 nominated Onochie and three others as INEC commissioners – Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah (National, from Katsina State); Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti) and Saidu Babura Ahmad (Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC (Jigawa).

The letter said: “Pursuant to Paragraph 14 of Part I (F) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, I hereby forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of the following four Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

The President’s letter however generated tension in the Senate with some PDP senators leading the opposition to Onochie.

According to investigation, the tension generated by the nomination of Onochie informed the “delay in referral or committal to the appropriate committee in the next legislative day after Buhari’s letter was read.”

It was learnt that some APC and PDP Senators met in Abuja on why Onochie’s nomination would not fly.

A ranking Senator in APC confirmed that some of his colleagues had been meeting informally on Onochie’s appointment.

He said while the senators would not want to confront Buhari, they have been sending emissaries to some principal officers to prevail on him to review the nomination of Onochie.

He listed the options available to the President as follows:

Leaving the Senate to determine her fate, which will lead to the rejection of the presidential nominee.

A win-win situation by prevailing on the Senate leadership to advise the President to review Onochie’s nomination.

Giving the slot to another state in the South-South instead of Delta
Insisting on her choice by the President will heat up the polity unnecessarily.

Retain Onochie, pollute INEC ahead of 2023

He said: “We have met with some of our colleagues in PDP based on public resentment against the nomination of Onochie.

“Even many Civil Society Organizations do not want her.

“It is interesting that APC senators are joining forces with PDP on this case.

“We do not want any crisis with the President but we have resolved to prevail on our leadership to ask the President to make a fresh nomination.

“So, there is probability that we will reject her. Most opinions do not favour her.”

A Senator from the North-West said: “Going by Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution as amended, ‘a member of the commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.

“But I, as an APC senator, know that she is positively partisan. She has been giving PDP sleepless nights.

“We cannot shy away from the truth at all. Let her remain in the office where she has been doing a good job to protect this administration from the opposition.

“Some of us will surely oppose her nomination despite the fact that we are in APC.”

A PDP Senator said although the nomination of Onochie is yet to be referred to the appropriate committee, her “fate is sealed.”

He said: “The PDP caucus will stop her at all cost. We will not walk out. We will ask the President of the Senate to subject her nomination to vote.

“Some lobbyists have been reaching out to senators, including myself. But in this age, we have video clips and statements portraying her as partisan.

“Although the excuse we got was that she made those utterances in the line of duty, we have also told these lobbyists that she does not need to change her job which she is doing excellently well. Her stay in INEC will be perilous.”

Notwithstanding, some governors have been lobbying to ensure the confirmation of Onochie.

“Some of these governors claimed that Onochie has been doing only a media job, not a partisan assignment.

“They said the candidate has a very rich experience which should not be sacrificed on the altar of bias.

“This is the situation as I talk to you. We are waiting for the President to refer the nomination to the relevant committee,” a Senator added.

https://thenationonlineng.net/inec-apc-pdp-senators-move-to-stop-buharis-aides-nomination/

Imagine a senile Daura donkey that was once an Army General couldn't neutralize boko haram ravaging his own region and u all expect something meaningful from this useless government...yet his only achievement is imposing his fellow scumbags to handle the affairs in the country.

They can only deceive their daft followers,...

This Kind poto-poto woman sef

Onochie used her mouth to put herself in trouble.

So they are still at this?

So Buhari can't respect himself.

Lauretta is a fanatical APC Zone B na

Person wey dey yarn rubbish always... Mak dem give her ApC WhatsApp group Admin as the INEC job no wan click...

Onochie can continue her zombie job. #Endsars protesters will soon come for her for trying to play down the efforts of #Endsars campaign.

Onochie is a disgrace to womanhood

They should create a portfolio for palmy consumption for her......She'll do better...

Politics apart that woman is something else abi is she not the one telling Bishop Oyedepo to create his own country

Is she from south south? Or why is her nomination being said to represent the south south, anyway wherever she is representing, we reject her from being in INEC. INEC is supposed to be independent, we don't what APC or PDP agents as INEC officials. All these rubbish should stop.

The president is just acting irresponsible.

But Wike of PDP just appointed card carrying members of PDP, Dr Barango Tariah as commissioner and Retired Justice Omereji chairman in Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

Initially when I saw Lauretta Onochie nomination I was against it.

But seeing Wike do even more worst after he Wike called on Nigerians to reject Lauretta Onochie's nomination and further appointment shows that PDP is doing worst.

PDP practice what you preach by telling Wike to drop all his appointed Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) members because pictures have emerged where almost all the members were seen in different campaign grounds of Wike in 2019 wearing PDP campaign attires campaigning for him and even radio advert campaign sponsored by them.

Dr Barango Tariah is a regular caller in radio show programs Nigeria Info Fm, Today Fm and Rhythm 93.7 view point program every Saturday in Port Harcourt where he defends Wike and PDP.

Mention Dr Barango Tariah and Retired Justice Omereji names anywhere in Port Harcourt first response you get from people is those PDP staunch loyalist to tell you how much everyone knows these individuals.

Buhari is daft
So despite all the outcry by most government officials and citizens, he doesn't seem moved to withdraw that appointment?
Woe unto all those who brought this calamity of a man on us

Good move. If the lifeless one doesn't see anything wrong with his lifeless action then its high time the senate do it for him!!!

Lauretta you see what ogogoro has caused bah? Any day this woman mistakenly becomes the president of Nigeria. Im packing all my generations, both before and after to leave the country.

Please do fast that woman should be in jail

She don't deserve that appointment at all.

Buhari must be blind or probably he must be dead as claimed.

No live human will appoint this stupid woman

So Buhari is still pushing for this woman

Is he deaf?

Now they will say we should not insult our leader

But what kind of deaf and highly insensitive leader is this

He has murder the Federal Character and appoints the Northerner into virtually every seat

He leads rule the country like a banana republic.

He has taken this Nation backward

How some people support this man still baffles me

Cos I don't expect someone in his right senses to support this so call president

ok

This woman as INEC commissioner ?

Automatically INEC will belong to APC under her watch.

To her, it will be a service to please BUBU not to serve Nigeria.

What should a sick bird do?

Get tweetment

Wizkid go soon enter the matter now

U think you are worthless and talk anyhow one day the little value u gathered will be looked from your worthless behaviour.

She cant give what she proved she cant have.

THUNDER SCATTER LAURETTA DEFORMED YANSH!!!

What's her nomination still doing there till now?

The way Pro Buhari monikers have taken over Nairaland of late.

NaWa!

Happy Sunday and a new month to us all




Anyone kind enough should please help with any amount of airtime.....
I really need it right now and I don't have any money or means, that's why I came to meet my NL family to please help me out....
I know you're all bless and the blessings will still continue to flow into your lifes....
My number is 08169614903

MAGG0T:


Imagine a senile Daura donkey that was once an Army General couldn't neutralize boko haram ravaging his own region and u all expect something meaningful from this useless government...yet his only achievement is imposing his fellow scumbags to handle the affairs in the country.

They can only deceive their daft followers,...

Take note of this ILoveDemManna!!!

Lauretta! Lauretta!! Lauretta!!!

Between her, boko haram, Covid-19, EndSars protests, Tinubu comments on the Edo state elections, Desmond Ediot(sorry Elliot) I cannot honestly say which one caused the most controversy and annoyance this year 2020.

Her nomination for the INEC post is even more intellectually insulting to our collective national sensibilities than the army's continual denial of their involvement in the Lekki tollgate shootings(or massacre if stories are to be believed)