The Director, Institute of Peace and Security Studies at the Bayelsa State-owned Niger Delta University, Dr Philips Okolo, has lauded the Senate for rejecting the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Okolo advised President Muhammadu Buhari, not to forward Onochie’s name to the Senate again.
According to him, there are qualified sons and daughters in the South-South region that Buhari can nominate for the position.
Okolo spoke during a chat with our correspondent on Tuesday shortly after the rejection of Onochie’s nomination by the Senate.
He, however, noted that many did not see her rejection coming given the present Senate’s antecedent of acceding to all kinds of requests from Buhari, irrespective of public outcry against such.
Okolo said, “Many Nigerians did not see it (Onochie’s rejection) coming because of the antecedent of the National Assembly but the Senate has risen to the occasion on this one.
“You will recall that many people, especially civil society organisations have clamoured for the withdrawal of her nomination by President Buhari but that did not happen until now. However, the Senate has rejected her nomination.
“Now that her nomination has been clearly rejected by the Senate, the President should not re-submit her name again. No doubt, there are eminently qualified people from the South-South that can be nominated as National Commissioner of INEC and this can come from Bayelsa, Rivers and any other state of the region.”
