Nigerian Senate has rejected Lauretta Onochie as a national commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Senate, however, confirmed five other nominees, including Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina), Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa), Baba Bila (North-East) and Prof. Abdullahi Zuru (North-West).
Their confirmation followed the adoption of the report of Senate committee on the screening of the INEC nominees at plenary on Tuesday.
Committee Chairman Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano), while presenting the report of the screening of the nominees, told the Senate that it was against the federal character principle to have two persons from the same state as INEC national commissioner. He explained that there is already a serving National Electoral Commissioner from Delta State, Barr. Mary Agbamuche-Mbu who was screened and confirmed by the 8th Senate.
“Therefore, based on the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) on Federal Character Principle as earlier stated, and in order for the Committee and the Senate to achieve fairness to other states and political zones in the country, the committee is unable to recommend Ms. Lauretta Onochie for confirmation as a National Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he added.
The Senate stood down the confirmation of Sani Adam (North-Central) for further legislative work.