A three-time member of the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately rescind the nomination of his Special Assistant on Social Media, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Buhari had on Tuesday Nominated Mrs. Lauretta Onochie for screening and confirmation as a National Commissioner of INEC, representing Delta State,
This request came in a letter which was read and approved by Senate President Ahmad Lawan at plenary.
However, while Reacting to the development, Malaye In a statement which he personally signed described the nomination as unconstitutional, affront on the patience of Nigerians and an insult to the institution of INEC.
“She is biased as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), hence this is an affront on the patience of Nigerians and insult to the electoral umpire as an institution.
“I hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately rescind her nomination forwarded to the Senate today otherwise I will mobilise Nigerians to challenge this decision, which is unconstitutional,” Melaye said.
The Kogi-born politician added that by nominating Onochie as INEC National Commissioner, President Buhari has violated the 1999 Constitution, which he swore to uphold at all times.
“It’s a known fact of law that Item F, Paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly forbids a card carrying member of a political party to be a member of INEC,” Melaye noted.
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