President Muhammadu Buhari has been under pressure to withdraw the nomination his aide, Lauretta Onochie, as a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Many Nigerians are kicking against it and a group called Situation Room said Onochie’s nomination is an attempt to weaken the efforts to build a credible electoral process in Nigeria.
“Situation Room calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately withdraw her nomination,” Clement Nwankwo, the Convener of the Group said in statement.
“Her nomination amounts to a major attempt at undermining efforts to build credibility for an improved electoral process in the country.”
While citing the 1999 constitution, Nwankwo said paragraph 14 forbids a “partisan politician” as a member of the electoral body.
He argued that the presidential aide is a “known partisan supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
Nwankwo asked the Senate to disregard her nomination if President Buhari fails to withdraw it.
His reaction followed President Buhari’s request for the National Assembly to confirm Onochie as INEC National Commissioner representing Delta State.
The President is also seeking confirmation of the appointment of three other; Professor Mohammed Sani (Katsina); Professor Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), and Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa).