By Williams Anuku, Abuja
A total of 14 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have teamed up to institute legal action against President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating Lauretta Onochie, his media aide as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They took the resolution on Thursday in Abuja, where they also advised the presidency to rescind its decision in order not to truncate the country’s democratic process.
According to the CSOs, Onochie would be too partisan, a situation that makes her appointment unconstitutional, because she wouldn’t be able to maintain neutral stance between political gladiators and structures.
“We appeal and call on the President to withdraw this nomination with immediate effect and or in the alternative the civil society will take legal actions to ensure that this nomination is not confirmed by the Senate of the Federal Republic, “they stated.
At a press conference coordinated by the Centre For Transparency Advocacy (CTA) in Abuja, the Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi and Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director, Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre and Convener, Say No Campaign, Nigeria, argued that if the President feels so strongly to reward Onochie for her loyalty and die-hard support, there are other areas of appointment he can consider, but certainly not INEC.
Among the CSOs that signed the petition includes Centre for Democracy and Development, Yiaga Africa, Social Action, Heda Resource Centre, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education, Ashh Foundation, Value Reorientation for Community Enhancement, Educational Empowerment Initiatives, Network For Peace and Inclusive Development among others.
They stated, “We, the concerned members of the- Civil Society write to put you on notice of our displeasure and disagreement with the letter from the President to the Senate of the Federal Republic nominating Ms Lauretta Onochie as National Commissioner for INEC.
“We completely reject this nomination, which does not sit well in the recent gains of the electoral system in the country, the 1999 Nigeria constitution (As amended) in the 3rd schedule, part 2f, paragraph 14(b) expressly provides that National Electoral Commissioners of INEC, shall be non-partisan and persons of unquestionable integrity, who shall be nominated by the president.
“It is important to note that the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC is an independent body overseeing the electoral processes in the country without any affiliation to any of the political parties should not have any of its governing bodies member identified as a person sympathetic to any political party.
“This status should remain so in order to maintain the sacredness of that institution. We are therefore troubled that Lauretta Onochie, a serving aide of the President who openly supports the president and his political party, has been nominated to the position of National Commissioner, INEC.
“Any INEC National commissioner should enjoy the trust and confidence of all parties concerned (Ruling and Opposition), Ms Onochie failed this critical test with her several open and toxic confrontations with opposition elements and anyone that disagrees with her position through the media.
“We see this as an affront to the sensibilities of Nigerians and total disrespect to the sanctity of the Nigerian Constitution.
“As civil society actors and veterans in election observation in the country, having contributed to the electoral gains in Nigeria, we condemn this nomination and affirm that this will erode the gains we have made in our electoral reforms and cast aspersions on the sincerity of the President in ensuring a reformed electoral process in the country. We appeal on Mr President to reconsider this nomination as it does not serve the nation any good.
“We strongly suggest that If the President feels so strongly to reward Lauretta Onochie for her loyalty and die-hard support, there are other areas of appointment the president can consider, but certainly not INEC. To do otherwise means upsetting INEC’s arrangement of non-partisanship”.
