Nigeria: Senate Asks Panel to Screen APC Member Lauretta Onochie as Electoral Commissioner

Nigeria’s Senate President Ahmad Lawan has directed the committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to screen Lauretta Onochie, a staunch member of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari as commissioner of the electoral body.

Many Nigerians had kicked against her nomination in October 2020, when President Buhari asked the upper legislative chamber to screen and confirm her.

Those who had kicked against her nomination were of the view that Ms Onochie is partisan and not fit for a position in the country’s electoral body.

Her nomination and that of Muhammad Kallah, Kunle Ajayi, Saidu Ahmad, Sani Adam and Baba Bila were referred to the INEC panel.

Senate minority leader Enyinnaya Abaribe protested when called to second the motion

“We feel surprised that, that same name has resurfaced not as a national commissioner but as a Delta state commissioner, Mr President, reluctantly, I second the motion.”

The Senate President then gave the INEC committee two weeks to report back on the nominations.