INEC Commissioner: President Buhari Replaces Lauretta Onochie

President Muhammadu Buhari has reappointed May Agbamuche Mbu (Delta, South-South) as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Mbu was appointed by the President on Tuesday to replace his Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie whose earlier nomination was rejected by the Senate.

The presidential aide was rejected following the report by the Senate Committee on (INEC), Senator Kabir Gaya who said her nomination breaches Federal Character principles.

Kabir Gaya cited Section 14 (1) 3 of the Constitution, stating that somebody was already a Commissioner from her zone, and the law remains clear about that.

The committee said there is currently a serving commissioner from Delta state, where Onochie hails from.

President Buhari also nominated Ukeagu Kenneth Nnamdi (Abia – South East), Major General A. B. Alkali (rtd) – (Adamawa, North East), Engr. (Prof.) Rhoda H. Gumus (Bayelsa – South-South), Mr Sam Olumekan (Ondo – South West) as National Commissioners of INEC and Olaniyi Olaleye Ijalaye (Ondo – South West), Mohammed Haruna (Niger, North Central) as Resident Electoral Commissioner.

Buhari in a letter dated December 10, 2021, and forwarded to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, urged the apex chamber to confirm the nominees.

The nomination of Onochie as commissioner of the electoral body in October had stirred reaction with political parties calling for her rejection on the grounds that she was too partisan to serve in a sensitive institution.

Onochie was also accused of being a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress.