Senate Minority Caucus has kicked against nomination of Mrs Lauretta Onochie as National Electoral Commissioner for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing her as a card-carrying party member.

Onochie is Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on social media.

Senate Minority Leader, Mr Enyinnaya Abaribe in a short statement, said by nominating his aide, Mr Buhari has “willfully gone against the constitution”.

He urged the President to withdraw the nomination.

Abaribe said, “Buhari by nominating Lauretta Onochie has willfully gone against the constitution that he swore to uphold..

“Item F, paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule of 1999 Constitution (as amended) forbids a card carrying member of a political party to be a member of INEC.

“The Minority Caucus of the Senate is against this nomination and calls on Mr President to withdraw it.”

Buhari had written the Senate seeking the confirmation of Onochie and three others for INEC job.

Other nominees are: Mr Muhammad Kallah (National Electoral Commissioner), Katsina; Mr Kunle  Ajayi (National Electoral Commissioner), Ekiti; and Mr Saidu  Ahmad (Resident Electoral Commissioner), Jigawa.

Buhari’s letter, dated 12th October, 2020, was read at the plenary on Tuesday.

Daily Trust