Onochie lacks the character to occupy position of unbiased umpire in national elections - CAN

…condemns her appointment, …calls on Senate to stop executive recklessness

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned in strong terms the nomination of a Presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as an executive recklessness, a dirty slap on the populace, and a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).

“When President Muhammadu Buhari said he wanted to leave a legacy of free, fair and credible election behind, all right-thinking Nigerians were happy and CAN has been praying for God to grant him the grace to do so. But the nomination of his personal aide to such a sensitive position may have revealed the type of electoral legacy the President is working on,” said CAN.

In a statement signed by Pastor Bayo on behalf of the president of CAN, Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, the group urged the Senate to reject the nomination of Onochie as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Christian body said although the President has power to appoint members of INEC whenever there are vacancies, he is expected to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in doing so.

“He is required to consult with the Council of State as stated in Section 154 (3) of the Constitution and we have no record that this had been done before forwarding Onochie’s’s name to the Senate,” CAN stated.

According to CAN, if the observation is correct, then the President erred in law by forwarding her name to the Senate as demanded by Section 154 (1) of the Constitution which says the appointment of the members of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

As far as CAN is concerned, Onochie suffers objectivity, justice and fairness that are mandatory for every member of INEC as a result of her partisan membership of a political party and by being an appointee of the ruling party.