Pascal Arogorn Ibe
A pro- democracy group , Concerned Nigerians, has condemned the nomination of the Presidential Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie , as an Independent National Electoral Commission Commissioner by President Muhammadu Buhari
The group has also asked the United States , United Kingdom , and other development partners not to allow the President to destroy the nation ’ s democracy and the INEC’ s independence by his parochial appointment.
In a letter to the US and UK Missions dated October 14, 2020, signed by the Convener, Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, the group described Onochie ’ s appointment as unconstitutional, and unacceptable to the generality of the Nigerian people.
It said 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. ”
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” .
Adeyanju submitted that the constitutional provision prohibits a card -carrying member of a registered political party or a well- known supporter of a particular political party from being appointed as a member of the INEC.
“ 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 stated.
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