2023: Senate President Goes Against Constitution Persists On Screening Of Lauretta Onochie

 

Ahmed Lawan Negates Provision Of Constitution, Insists On Screening Of Buhari's Aide Lauretta Onochie, To Be An Appointee Of INEC.

..... Abaribe declines Seconding 

The Senate President Ahmed Lawan has against the many complains from Nigerians, and disregarding the  constitution has carried on with pushing for Lauretta Onochie to be screened for appointment into the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 

MediaOrchid recalls that Onochie an Aide to President Buhari was nominated by Buhari himself in October 2020 but was immediately rejected knowing not only is she  partisan but as an aide, she is also notorious for Uncouth remarks at critics of the Buhari led administration. 

Ahmed Lawan on Wednesday during a plenary session gave the  directives for the Senate committee on INEC to screen Onochie in anticipation of her confirmation as Commissioner of INEC following after he received yet again another proposal from Buhari through Yahaya Abdullahi the leader of the senate asking for Onochie to be screened alongside 5 others. 

The minority leader of the senate, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe was asked to second the motion which he vehemently refused stressing that Onochie had been rejected by the senate last year. 

The Nigerian Constitution stands against persons who are partisan or affiliated with any party being nominated or appointed for such delicate positions.

Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule of  the 1999 Constitution, as amended, have that  “a member of the commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.”

Also, Section 14(3b) of the Schedule adds that  “there shall be for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, a Resident Electoral Commissioner who shall be a person of unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party,” a provision that does not exclude the appointment of Resident Electoral Commissioners.

The senate president however, disregarded the constitution and further pushed that the Committee carries on with screening of all nominees including the controversial Onochie causing bolts of anger to rise among Nigerians towards him.