INEC: CSOs threaten legal action over Onochie’s nomination
Leading civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country have threatened legal action over the nomination of Ms Laurette Onochie as a commissioner in the INEC by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The CSOs, at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, said President Buhari’s nomination of his aide as a commissioner of INEC was unwholesome.
The Executive
Director,
Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre, and Convener Say No Campaign Nigeria, Ezenwa Nwagwu and the Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), Faith Nwadishi, who spoke on behalf of others, said if her nomination was not withdrawn, they would go to court.
“By this statement, we appeal and call on the president to withdraw this nomination with immediate effect and or in the alternative the civil society will take legal actions to ensure that this nomination is not confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic.
“Whereas the 1999 Nigeria Constitution (As amended) in the 3rd schedule, part 2f, paragraph 14(b) provides that National Electoral Commissioners of INEC, shall be non-partisan and persons of unquestionable integrity, who shall be nominated by the president.
“We are therefore troubled that Lauretta Onochie, a serving aide of the president who openly supports the president and his political party, has been nominated to the position of National Commissioner of INEC.
“Any INEC national commissioner should enjoy the trust and confidence of all parties concerned (ruling and opposition). Ms Onochie failed this critical test with her several open confrontations with opposition elements through the media,” they said.
Other signatories are Idayat
Hassan, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Samson Itodo, Yiaga Africa; Vivian Bello, Social Action; Olanrewaju Siraj, HEDA Resource Center; Okechukwu Nwaguma, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC); Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED); Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, WARDC and Comfort Attah, Ashh Foundation, Bauchi among others.