ICYMI: Tambuwal asks Buhari to drop Lauretta Onochie as INEC commissioner

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

On Tuesday, Buhari had asked the senate to confirm Onochie, his personal assistant on social media, alongside Mohammed Sani (Katsina), Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti) and Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa) as INEC commissioners.

Speaking on Wednesday during the swearing-in of the chairman and members of the Sokoto State Independent Electoral Commission (SSIEC), Tambuwal asked Buhari to search for a more credible and competent candidate for the position.

“I am appealing to the president to rise above sentiments and do the needful by going by the constitution as the president of Nigeria and not as the president of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and withdraw the nomination of Onochie in the interest of this country,” he said.

“We must be seen to be doing what will consolidate our gains in the electoral process, not what will obviously put us in reverse gear. This is an individual who is not only ultra-APC; she is partisan, and a person who cannot be recommended for such office. I think the president should reconsider his position and respond to the comments of well-meaning Nigerians who have rejected this nomination.

“We should all know that as leaders, we are expected to live above board, as there are some minimum expectations of Nigerians from us when it comes to certain things. When you appoint someone who is clearly partisan into an electoral body, the signs are not too good; and they cannot be taken for anything else.

“I believe that the best legacy that Buhari can live for Nigeria and indeed Nigerians is an improvement upon our electoral process. I have said this several times that if it is clear that the government has not done well in the provision of infrastructure, economy, fighting corruption, fighting insurgent and insecurity in whatever form. The best legacy from the president is to be transparent as well as build a credible electoral process.”

Also, civil society groups have condemned the nomination by the president, saying Onochie is not qualified to hold the position according to the constitution.