A group, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), says the Senate’s rejection of the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a welcome development that augurs well for Nigeria’s democracy.
Onochie was nominated by President Mohammadu Buhari as INEC National Commissioner to represent the South South in October, a move that was greeted with outrage, disappointment and was roundly rejected by majority of Nigerians.
The Centre noted in a statement that Onochie was rightly perceived by Nigerians as partisan, toxic and lacking in the integrity to assume such an office.
It said Ms Onochie’s presence at INEC would have in great measures impinged on the integrity of the electoral body and put to question the integrity of the electoral process.
“The Senate has done the needful by listening to the voice of the people even though pressured by Nigerians to be accountable to the people and represent the interest of the people.
“CTA calls on CSOs and Nigerians to still be vigilant and look forward to the National Assembly passing an electoral bill that will have electronic transmission of results by INEC and addresses all other issues raised by Nigerians. Citizen’s power keeps hope alive for our democracy,” it said.
