Following massive outcry that trailed her nomination, the Nigerian Senate on Thursday rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
President Buhari had nominated her as a national commissioner, triggering massive outcry especially from members of the opposition and civil society organisations who claim she is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
Onochie is a new media aide of President Buhari and a member of the All Progressives Congress.
Kabiru Gaya, chairman of the committee that screened and other nominees, presented a report to the senate plenary on Tuesday.
He said the Committee rejected the nomination of Onochie because there is already a National Commissioner of INEC, Mrs May Agbamuche, representing Delta State in the Commission.
The Senate also stepped down the nomination of Professor Sani Mohammad Adam (North Central) to allow for further legislative action.
In her introductory remarks during her screening last Thursday, Onochie, however, insisted she is not partisan.
While noting that she had seen the petitions against her which were not only from the opposition but also from people in the APC, she said it was because she is known to be non-partisan and someone who insists on due process.
Onochie, however, insisted that since President Buhari won his second term, she has removed herself from all things political.
