Despite senate’s rejection, Buhari insists on Onochie’s candidature

Despite the rejection Lauretta Onochie suffered at the Senate, President Muhammadu Buhari has planned to resend her to the Senate, saying her candidature is trustworthy.

The nomination of Onochie, who current is the Social Media aide to Buhari, as INEC commissioner suffered rejection at the Senate on Tuesday.

But the Presidency believed she possessed good character that is needed in INEC.

According to a source who hinted the Punch on the matter, “The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari who made the nomination had not chosen to withdraw it shows that he still has faith in the process and Onochie’s candidature is viable. So far, he hasn’t withdrawn his confidence in Onochie.”

Tgnews had reported that the Chairman of the Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), had disclosed that several petitions were received against the president’s aide, especially on her involvement in politics and alleged membership of a political party.

It was also stated that her nomination violated Federal Character Principle as there is already a serving National Electoral Commissioner from Delta State,

“In the case of Ms. Lauretta Onochie’s, having studied her curriculum vitae and other relevant documents, followed by exhaustive interaction around the petitions against her nomination which she responded to accordingly, including attesting that she is not a registered member of any political party”, Gaya said.