Senate President Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan on Wednesday ordered the screening of Lauretta Onochie, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on new media and five others as Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Lawan’s directive is coming after eight months that the name of Onochie and five others were forwarded to the Senate for confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Out of the six names forwarded, Lauretta Onochie’s name generated public controversy and outrage and in particular, the Senate minority caucus who contended that she was a card carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Our correspondent learnt that the delay in the screening of the President’s aide was due to protests that rocked the Onochie’s name as one of the INEC Commissioners.9
Onochie, who hailed from Delta State, the Senate minority argued would not be fair in the discharge of her duties as a partisan politician.
Other names on the list are, Prof. Muhammad Kallah (Katsina); Prof. Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti); Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa); Prof Sani Adam (North- Central); and Dr Baba Bila (North-East).
Senator Kabiru Gaya, Senaye Committee Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission has four weeks to turn in Committee reports to the Chambers for confirmation.
