The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by the party National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus yesterday stormed the National Assembly to protest the appointment of Lauretta Onochie as one of the National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
According to reports, the list containing the name of Lauretta Onochie and five others for confirmation as INEC Commissioners had since been sent to the Senate Committee on INEC led by Senator Kabiru Gaya for clearance by President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.
President Buhari had in a letter dated October 12, 2020, and read during plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan sought the Red Chamber confirmation of the appointment of the nominees.
Other nominees whose names were sent for screening and confirmation as INEC National Commissioners to represent their respective states and zones were Professor Muhammad Sani Kallah, (Katsina); Professor Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti); Saidu Babura Ahmad,( Jigawa); Professor Sani Muhammad Adam( North Central) and Dr. Baba Bila, (North East).
Addressing newsmen at the main gate of the National Assembly complex, the PDP Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said he led members of the PDP National Working Committee to formally present a petition against the clearance of Lauretta Onochie by the Senate.
Secondus, who was received by Ndudi Elumelu and Enyinnaya Abaribe, House of Representatives and Senate Minority Leaders, respectively, maintained that Onochie, being an aide of President Buhari and card-carrying member of the ruling party should not be allowed into a sensitive position in the country electoral umpire.
Recall that Ms. Onochie had campaigned for the president’s second-term (#NextLevel Agenda) in 2018 and 2019.
The Party also vowed to ensure that the defected lawmakers from Zamfara State lose their seats.
