Onochie: Buhari’s Nomination Of Personal Aide Amounts To Executive Recklessness, CAN Writes Senate

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Thursday, frowned on President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of his aide, Lauretta Onochie, as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It termed the development as an “executive recklessness” on the part of Buhari .

It noted that it was “a dirty slap on the populace, and a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).”

CAN urged the Senate to reject her nomination.

This was made known on Thursday in a statement signed by CAN President, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle, and made available to THE WHISTLER.

“When President Muhammadu Buhari said he wanted to leave a legacy of free, fair and credible election behind, all right thinking Nigerians were happy and CAN has been praying for God to grant him the grace to do so. But the nomination of his personal aide to such a sensitive position may have revealed the type of electoral legacy the President is working on.

“We hereby call on the Senate to reject the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for these reasons:

“According to Section 156 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) Act No 1, 2010, a member of the INEC shall not be a member of a political party. Whereas Onochie is reportedly said to be a card carrying member of the ruling party. That disqualifies her from being nominated and appointed to serve in INEC,” the statement partly read.

More so, CAN stressed that even though the President had some constitutional powers, he ought to follow the rule of law and keep politics aside when appointing officials into offices that represented the generality of Nigerians.

However, the President had told the Senate that the nomination was pursuant to Paragraph 14 of part 1F of the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

But, Ayokunle held the view that Onochie had been a major critic of those with opposing views to the President, and as such, was not qualified to be a national commissioner of INEC, the electoral umpire of the country

“Furthermore, although the President has power to appoint members of INEC whenever there are vacancies, he is expected to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in doing so.

“He is required to consult with the Council of State as stated in section 154 (3) of the Constitution and we have no record that this had been done before forwarding Onochie’s name to the Senate.

“If this observation is correct, then the President erred in law by forwarding her name to the Senate as demanded by Section 154 (1) of the Constitution which says the appointment of the members of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

“As far as CAN is concerned, Onochie suffers objectivity, justice and fairness that are mandatory for every member of INEC as a result of her partisan membership of a political party and by being an appointee of the ruling party.

“We are equally opposed to her nomination because of her unguarded remarks, public insults on credible individuals and the use of vulgar language and unprintable words against people who express their displeasure to some actions and policies of the government of the day, especially, her principal.

“Our Association and her leadership had been a victim of her unguarded statements since her appointment as the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media. A person like her by her utterances does not have the character to occupy a position of unbiased umpire in national elections in Nigeria,” he stated.

Meanwhile, CAN urged the Senate to put Nigeria’s democracy at heart while screening other INEC nominees so as to ensure that the prospect of free and fair elections was not jeopardised.

The statement further reads:

“Additionally, CAN calls on the distinguished Senate to do a thorough investigation of other three nominees to ensure that they are truly qualified and competent for the appointment and that they do not belong to any political party.

“This would prevent unnecessary interference in the conduct of elections and ensure conduct of credible elections for our general good. It is shameful, disappointing, disheartening, unacceptable that our elections in recent years have been far from being free, fair and credible. This may not be far from the partiality of the election umpires, among others.

“We appeal to the Senate to save the nation from constitutional breach and crises during elections that can consume the nation.

“May God bless you richly as you allow the fear of God and the love of this country to guide you in this task. We give you assurances of our prayer support and our door is opened to the leadership and the membership of the National Assembly for godly counsel and prayers whenever you desire them.”