By Dayo Omoogun
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has joined several groups and individuals who have condemned the nomination of Lauretta Onoche,
a presidential media aide, as one of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s new commissioner to fill existing vacancies.
CAN describe the move as executive recklessness, a dirty slap on the populace and gross violation of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
The association contended that the nomination gives a peep into the kind of legacy President Muhammad Buhari intends to bequeath to the Nigerian contrary to his posturing. It, therefore, called on the Senate to reject the nomination.
“When President Muhammadu Buhari said he wanted to leave a legacy of free, fair and credible election behind, all right-thinking Nigerians were happy and CAN has been praying for God to grant him the grace to do so. But the nomination of his personal aide to such a sensitive position may have revealed the type of electoral legacy the President is working on.
“We hereby call on the Senate to reject the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for these reasons:
CAN averred that Onoche stands disqualified by reason of the provision of Section 156 (1) (a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) Act No 1, 2010, which states that a member of the INEC “shall not be a member of a political party.”
“Whereas Onochie is reportedly said to be a card-carrying member of the ruling party. That disqualifies her from being nominated and appointed to serve in INEC”, CAN stated.
The President of CAN, Reverend Dr. Olasupo Ayokunle, who signed the statement also observed that the President had not followed constitutionally laid down procedures as he had not consulted with the Council of States before submitting the names for confirmation by the Senate.
“Furthermore, although the President has power to appoint members of INEC whenever there are vacancies, he is expected to abide by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in doing so. He is required to consult with the Council of State as stated in section 154 (3) of the Constitution and we have no record that this had been done before forwarding Onochie’s name to the Senate.
“If this observation is correct, then the President erred in law by forwarding her name to the Senate as demanded by Section 154 (1) of the Constitution which says the appointment of the members of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Commenting on the character of the nominee, CAN said “Onochie suffers objectivity, justice and fairness that are mandatory for every member of INEC as a result of her partisan membership of a political party and by being an appointee of the ruling party.
Also, the body listed ” her unguarded remarks, public insults on credible individuals and the use of vulgar language and unprintable words against people who express their displeasure to some actions and policies of the government of the day, especially, her principal”, adding that even it’s Association had not been spared.
“Our Association and her leadership had been a victim of her unguarded statements since her appointment as the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media. A person like her by her utterances does not have the character to occupy a position of an unbiased umpire in national elections in Nigeria.
“Additionally, CAN call on the distinguished Senate to do a thorough investigation of other three nominees to ensure that they are truly qualified and competent for the appointment and that they do not belong to any political party. This would prevent unnecessary interference in the conduct of elections and ensure the conduct of credible elections for our general good.
“It is shameful, disappointing, disheartening, unacceptable that our elections in recent years have been far from being free, fair and credible. This may not be far from the partiality of the election umpires, among others.
“We appeal to the Senate to save the nation from constitutional breach and crises during elections that can consume the nation.”