Reactions have continued to trail the nominations of Lauretta Onochie as a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A prolific writer and public affairs analyst with propensity for burning sociopolitical and national issues, Carl Umegboro, has demanded that the senate pull a plug on the confirmation of Onochie.
The controversial politician was one of President Buhari’s numerous voracious footsoldiers during the 2015 electioneering campaigns and the incumbent Special Adviser on Social Media.
Recall that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday stormed the National Assembly in protest to demand lawmakers stop her as a commissioner of INEC.
The PDP leadership, led by its chairman, Prince Uche Secondus said Onochie should not be confirmed as an INEC commissioner because she is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and presented a letter to that effect to the screening committee.
Addressing newsmen at the National Assembly complex, Secondus who was received by Ndudi Elumelu and Enyinnaya Abaribe, House of Representatives and Senate Minority Leaders respectively said Onochie’s nomination should be rejected as she comes biased already.
“We are here to make a final point, to make final rejection of Onochie. We don’t need her in INEC, she is going to pollute the system. It is very clear that she will cause problems for INEC; what we need from Mr President is to conduct a free and fair election, she will pollute the atmosphere of INEC, she is a card-carrying member of APC, she is a specialist in manipulation.
“We have presented our protest letter to be delivered to Senate President,” Secondus said.
In his reaction, Umegboro expressed his satisfaction and support for the protest.
“This is the first time PDP acts like opposition with human brains. I wonder how Buhari’s government could nominate Lauretta Onochie as INEC commissioner – a position reserved for those that don’t belong to any political party. It’s a disgrace, and I informed Onochie that it cannot fly as far as 1999 CFRN is still valid. And we quarreled seriously over it.
“Because of this nonsensical nomination, we no longer communicate with each other,” he stated.
According to the prolific writer, it was an aberration to nominate such a partisan character for such a position and such could lead to the country’s demise.
“We can’t allow this country to be destroyed. Where the government gets it right, I will hail it, and when wrong, I cannot hide my feelings.
“I have nothing against Onochie but the position offends Nigerian Constitution. There are many positions the presidency can fix her that she can suitably occupy, but not a position as INEC commissioner considering her known activities in a political party. It’s immaterial the political party she belongs, but the Constitution must be respected,” he concluded.
The Nigeria Constitution 1999 as amended clearly prohibits people like Onochie, a card-carrying member of a political party to be appointed into INEC as an electoral umpire. Section 156(i)(a) and third schedule, Part 1, Item F, Paragraph 14(1) of the constitution have outrightly disqualifies her.
Nigerians keep wondering why such nomination was not dead on arrival but enjoying consideration of the lawmakers.
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