Nigerians are currently reacting over the appointment of Madam Lauretta Onochie, an aide to the President on media, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) representing Delta State.
Onochie was appointed as INEC Commissioner among other nominees; Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah (National Electoral Commissioner), Katsina; Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (National Electoral Commissioner), Ekiti; and Saidu Babura Ahmad (Resident Electoral Commissioner), Jigawa.
Appointment of Onochie and other nominees was contained in a letter dated 12th October, 2020, was read by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.
The letter read in part “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.”
1. Prof. Muhaamad Sani – Katsina State
2. Lauretta Onochie – Delta State
3. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi – Ekiti State
4. Seidu Ahmad – Jigawa State
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 13, 2020
Reacting over Onochie’s appointment, Nigerians questioned the latters character in which President Buhari appointed her as INEC Commissioner.
@mrfestusogun said; “The appointment of Lauretta Onochie as INEC Commissioner is unconstitutional, undemocratic and ridiculous. Section 14 of Part 1 of Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution provides that a person to be appointed as INEC commissioner must be a person of “unquestionable integrity”.
@Chrisblin opined the the appointment was the shift the #EndSars protesters from their main goal which is to persuade the federal government to permanently end a police unit which has been accused of ‘Killings, Extortions, and Brutality’.
“Buhari just nominated Lauretta Onochie for the position of INEC chairman while we are protesting
“We won’t be stopping this protest soon as the president is already moving mad #SARAMUSTEND #EndSARS #SARSMUSTENDNOW
@SAMKLEF also opined that INEC Commissioner should have been given to younger generations instead of the old ones.
“INEC should be giving to some one like 2face or akin Alabi. Now let’s send all this old men to spend time with their families”.
@Aisha_Yesufuu said; “So Even in the middle of a severe Protest, buhari still appointed Lauretta Onochie Inec commissioner? A woman whose utterances are unbecoming of a government aide is warming up to be given new wings to fly wild. @MBuhari You should have done better because we have better heads!
Appointing Lauretta Onochie to INEC is a contradiction in terms. How’ll you nominate a staunch member of a political party to a body that is supposed to be independent and will make decisions affecting her party? The Senate should reject her and all others affiliated to a party. https://t.co/EL0GxMEp6i
— Bulama Bukarti (@bulamabukarti) October 13, 2020
A crazy drunkard that insults everyone who criticize Buhari will now become an INEC Commissioner. Gosh!!! The country has really gone to the dogs. #SARSMUSTENDNOW
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) October 13, 2020
Lauretta Onochie is a card carrying member of APC and yet Buhari appointed him to be the INEC Commissioner. Lol
Some things dey dey somehow maybe nah distraction sha.— Premier (@SodiqTade) October 13, 2020
This wicked woman, Lauretta Onochie must be rejected and ejected by the Senate! She's extremely partisan, and definitely unqualified to be Commissioner of INEC
Such a personality has no business heading any Unit in a sane space
She's toxic and flippant. She can never be trusted pic.twitter.com/NVpwSrmIg5
— Senior Man, MPA (@highlandre1) October 13, 2020
