PDP warns senate president against approving Onochie as INEC Commissioner

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, not to test the will of Nigerians by pushing through, the confirmation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Lauretta Onochie, as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP said Lawan was directly testing the will of the people by his failure to return Onochie’s nomination to President Buhari as demanded by some Nigerians and key political stakeholders.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it was appalled by the action of the senate president, in sending Onochie’s name for clearance, knowing fully well that she is a card-carrying member of APC.

According to Ologbondiyan, “Our party cautions that the Senate President is pitching the institution of the Senate against the generality of Nigerians, adding that the consequence of such arrogant derision to the definite provision of the 1999 Constitution as well as the precise demands by Nigerians to return Onochie’s nomination to Mr. President, could cost the institution its respect with the people.

“Our party is appalled that Senator Lawan, who swore to protect the constitution, will brazenly debase its clear provision in paragraph 14 of the 3rd schedule by sending a card-carrying member of a political party for clearance as INEC national commissioner.

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“Sending Onochie’s nomination to the Senate Committee on INEC for clearance is completely offensive to all parliamentary procedure of due process as it is akin to sending the name of President Buhari to the committee for clearance as INEC Chairman or national officer.

“If he meant well, Senator Lawan ought to, upon receiving the obnoxious nomination, immediately returned same to President Buhari and advise him to send a replacement.

“Senator Lawan must know that he is holding the office of the Senate President in trust and that the constitution has ample and unambiguous provisions with regard to a legislative official, who chooses to grossly violate its provisions, as being witnessed in his desperation to confirm Onochie as INEC official.

“In the same vein, our party, in solidarity with Nigerians, urges the Chairman of Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya, to detach and distance himself from Senator Lawan, in his mission to desecrate the sanctity of our electoral system.

“PDP counsels Gaya not to heed to Lawan’s push urging him to move against the demand by Nigerians that Onochie’s consideration be turned down.”