By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation

The Senate has stepped down the confirmation of the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The chamber has reached out to the presidency to replace Onochie, whose nomination has divided senators.

The Presidency is currently weighing its options on her although it can still re-present the nominee depending on political circumstance.

Onochie’s fate is delaying the confirmation of three others on the list submitted to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari.

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).

Buhari, in the letter, had 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 Nation gathered that the Senate committee discovered that Onochie is “greatly partisan based on her conviction that All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Buhari are the best for Nigeria”.

It was learnt that apart from protest by the opposition, some APC senators also agreed that she is “positively partisan” in her devotion to work.

The affected APC senators vowed that they would not back her clearance since a candidate for Resident Electoral Commissioner from Osun State was rejected in similar circumstances.

Findings confirmed that despite her brilliance, most senators do not want Onochie because her confirmation process may “mess up the by-partisan harmony in the Senate.

A senator who spoke in confidence said: “We were able to confirm the allegation of partisanship against Onochie in the course of our checks. Her nomination was faulty from the outset.

“We do not begrudge her for standing by her conviction. But in the light of…, she cannot be a National Commissioner for INEC. A nominee cannot profess bias for politics or any party.

“To avoid heating up the Senate and a likely conflict with the Presidency, we decided to ‘step down’ her confirmation.

“This is a middle course approach which will not embarrass both the presidency and the nominee, whose dossiers are already with the opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

Responding to a question, the Senator said: “I can confidently tell you that our leadership has got in touch with the presidency on our decision on Onochie. We have asked the presidency to forward another nominee to us.

“We decided to suspend legislative action on the three other nominees on the same list with Onochie in anticipation of the response of the presidency.”

A ranking senator said the chamber was out to protect the integrity of INEC and the 2023 polls.

He said: “Some of us were uncomfortable with Onochie in view of our determination to protect the sanctity of 2023 poll and the integrity of the electoral umpire. If we want a credible poll, the entire process must be flawless.

“Onochie’s nomination and confirmation (if we had gone ahead) will attract many cases in court. We believe the Senate should not look foolish. It is nothing personal against her; we have to abide by the constitution.

“This is the second time we have taken such a decision. In December 2019, the Senate rejected Raheem Muideen, who was nominated by the presidency as a Resident Electoral Commissioner. There was a petition against him on his membership of APC.

“The lesson in this is that the presidency must conduct due diligence before submitting any list of nominees to the Senate. Onochie can be a minister but not INEC National Commissioner.”

A source in the presidency said: “The government is looking at options available to it.”

https://thenationonlineng.net/inec-senate-declines-confirmation-of-buharis-aide-requests-fresh-nominee/

Lauretta Onochie should be confirmed because she has been loyal to the north. That is a very big criteria we use in selecting national leaders. Tinubu could also be considered for president because he has put Fulani agenda ahead of yoruba agenda.

The nomination of Lauretta Onochie is one of the confirmation that the person in Aso is not Bubu.

She can become the next president if they want

I was even suprised that the senate rejected this now...cos President Buhari refused to appear before them


HaHAHHAHAHHAHAH

I LOVE THIS COUNTRY

Very good!

They can make her VP if they like.

Kaduna1stson:
Lauretta Onochie should be confirmed because she has been loyal to the north. That is a very big criteria we use in selecting national leaders. Tinubu could also be considered for president because he has put Fulani agenda ahead of yoruba agenda.

If you are truly Bashir hell rufai, you are doing a good job.

How can you nominate Lauretta as an inec commissioner?

What kind of foolishness is that?

This government sha... Tufiakwa!

Kaduna1stson:
Lauretta Onochie should be confirmed because she has been loyal to the north. That is a very big criteria we use in selecting national leaders. Tinubu could also be considered for president because he has put Fulani agenda ahead of yoruba agenda.

You this impostor again?

Good for the lousy woman...she should continue talking rubbish

After using her to do their bidding now they wants to dump her in the trash

Good for that senior olosho.

You are really bad if our senators jointly agree you are bad.

Very good.

An associate of a political party cannot be saddled with Elections responsibilities.

Damnnn niggarrrr
Isoright

That is why I love Baba Buhari,
He never intervenes or meddle with the senate.
He allow them to do their job.

If to say na OBJ be dis.
He must force them by fire , by force to approve her.

[s]

ILoveDemMANNA:
That is why I love Baba Buhari,
He never intervenes or meddle with the senate.
He allow them to do their job.

If to say na OBJ be dis.
He must force them by fire , by force to approve her.

[/s]

NONSENSE

Absolute trash

Welcome development

Our friend on Nairaland is in severe pain. Let's console her, please..

Initial grab gra.
These same useless Senate, including even the pdp members,would later confirm this same useless drunkard.

Even though we've a rubber Stamp Senate, I'm happy they declined. If she was given that position Ehn, na die for every election that holds after.

Buhari is nothing but a huge joke, his nomination of Lauretta shows how unserious and unconcerned he is about improvement of electoral process in Nigeria.

Unlike the taste of Old Wine, Nigeria can never get better!!!! Well, maybe not in my generation at least.

If no be sey Buhari dey craze, how him go recommend him party member for that kind post?

Life drama and super story

Hehehehe

Her nomination should have been the lowest of the lows of the NASS

l just dey laff

Please let Buhari nominate Alhaji Adamu Aboki Abdullahi to replace her since Igbos do not want their daughter there.

This was the same mistake Bola Tinubu made in 2011 by supporting Tambuwa against one of our Yoruba prostitute female politicians as Speaker of House of Representatives just to spite PDP. Till today, Tinubu is still regretting it.

Kaduna1stson:
Lauretta Onochie should be confirmed because she has been loyal to the north. That is a very big criteria we use in selecting national leaders. Tinubu could also be considered for president because he has put Fulani agenda ahead of yoruba agenda.

Well done.... I like your style... The wailers are dying already... your comments are drenching their brains....

enemyofprogress:
If no be sey Buhari dey craze, how him go recommend him party member for that kind post?

Don’t worry, he will replace her with Hajia Hawawu Ciroma of NCP