Concerned Nigerians Group Commends Nigerian Senate For Stepping Down Confirmation Of Onochie As INEC Commissioner
……Warns against reversing electoral gains by banning electronic transmission of results
Concerned Nigerians for the protection of Human Rights and Rule of Law initiative has commended the Nigerian senate for rejecting the nomination of Special Assistant to the president on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie as Independent National Electoral Commission’s commissioner.
The pro-democracy and human rights group in a press statement by its spokesperson, Theophilus Abuh Agada said the nomination of Ms Onochie, a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress and special assistant to the president as INEC commissioner is an aberration and mockery of our democracy.
“We commend the Nigerian senate for showing extraordinary courage in rejecting the nomination of Onochie as INEC commissioner. INEC is an independent institution and the nomination of Onochie negates the principle upon which the body was established.”
“Onochie is not just partisan, she has proven over time to be a paid hack of the ruling party. Her demonstrable actions in defending the president and politicians elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress will affect her sense of judgement in discharging her duties as an INEC commissioner”.
Agada stated that an INEC commissioner ought to be someone with no questionable character but one with a proven integrity.
The group also enjoined president Muhammadu Buhari to sign the amended electoral bill as it will strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and ensure transparency, credibility in the conduct of elections.
“If the President means well for Nigeria and he is concerned about the quality of leaders elected into different offices, he should sign the amended electoral bill rather than appointing an aide questionable integrity that will help him and his party rig elections”.
“In the same vain, we call on the National Assembly not to reverse the gains we have made in our electoral process by banning the electronic transmissions results”. The ruling All Progressives Congress succeeded in 2015 in assuming power because of the innovative introduction of card reader. The National Assembly must continue to support innovative ideas by INEC which will help the commission conduct free, credible and transparent elections”.
Finally, we call on the Inspector General of Police to begin immediate prosecution of Lauretta Onochie for brazenly lying under oath.
