CONTROVERSIAL Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Senator Dino Melaye, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately rescind the nomination of his Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Melaye, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, described the nomination as unconstitutional, adding that it was an affront on the patience of Nigerians, and an insult to the institution of INEC.
Giving further reasons for his position, Melaye said, “She is biased as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hence this is an affront on the patience of Nigerians and insult to the electoral umpire as an institution.
“I hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately rescind her nomination forwarded to the Senate today otherwise I will mobilise Nigerians to challenge this decision, which is unconstitutional.”
He said by nominating Onochie as INEC National Commissioner, the President had violated the 1999 Constitution, which he swore to uphold at all times.
“It’s a known fact of law that Item F, Paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly forbids a card-carrying member of a political party to be a member of INEC,” Melaye stressed.
Buhari had nominated Onochie as a National Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, alongside three other nominees.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan read the President’s letter of request for the confirmation of Onochie, who is from Delta State, at plenary.
Buhari also nominated Prof. Muhammad Sani Kallah, from Katsina; and Prof. Kunle Cornelius Ajayi, from Ekiti; for confirmation as National Electoral Commissioners.
Saidu Babura Ahmad, from Jigawa State, was nominated as a Resident Electoral Commissioner.
