Deji Adeyanju Asks US, UK To Stop Buhari From Appointing Onochie

Concerned Nigerians – a group led by Deji Adeyanju –  has rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Naija News recalls that President Buhari had nominated Onochie, his Special Assistant on Social Media, as a National Commissioner of 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.

In a letter to the United States and United Kingdom Missions dated October 14, 2020, signed by the Convener of the group, Deji Adeyanju asked the US and UK not to allow Buhari to destroy the nation’s democracy and the INEC’s independence.

According to the group, Onochie’s appointment as unconstitutional, and unacceptable to the generality of the Nigerian people.

The letter titled, ‘Nomination of Lauretta Onochie: Prevail on President Buhari not to destroy the independence of INEC,’ read in part, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of his Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, as INEC Commissioner from Delta State is a reprehensible attempt to destroy the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s electoral commission.

“Lauretta Onochie is an openly partisan, card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress, Nigeria’s ruling party, who constantly attacks and denigrates critics of the ruling party.

“Her appointment is in violation of Paragraph 14 of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution as amended by Section 30, Act No 1 of 2010, which stipulates that a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be non-partisan”.

“We appeal to you to pressure President Buhari to rescind this appoint as it is capable of reversing the gains made in our electoral processes,” he added.