SERAP Kicks Against Lauretta Onochie’s Nomination As INEC Commissioner

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), a non-governmental, has kicked against the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Naija News had reported earlier that President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Onochie, his Special Assistant on Social Media, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), representing Delta State.

In a letter of request to the National Assembly which was read during plenary on Tuesday by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, President Buhari also nominated Prof. Mohammed Sani representing Katsina; Prof. Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti) and Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa) to fill the quota of INEC Commissioners in their state.

The President noted  in his letter to the Nigerian Senate that the nomination was pursuant to Paragraph 14 of part 1F of the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

However, displeased with Onochie’s nomination as INEC Commissioner, SERAP took to the micro-blogging site, Twitter to kick against the appointment, describing it as “a serious threat to the independence and integrity of INEC.”

“The appointment of a presidential aide as Commissioner to INEC is a serious threat to the independence and integrity of INEC, and to free and fair elections in Nigeria.

“It also undermines Nigerians’ right to participate in their own government. @nassnigeria should reject this,” SERAP tweeted on Tuesday afternoon.

The appointment of a presidential aide as Commissioner to INEC is a serious threat to the independence and integrity of INEC, and to free and fair elections in Nigeria.

It also undermines Nigerians’ right to participate in their own government. @nassnigeria should reject this. https://t.co/jpovWjuw7e

— SERAP (@SERAPNigeria) October 13, 2020