Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has commended the Senate for rejecting the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to the Chairman of the INEC Committee in the Senate, Kabiru Gaya, in his report, Onochie did not satisfy the provisions of the Federal Character Principles.
The Senate at the committee of the whole subsequently voted against her nomination.
Reacting to the rejection, Fayose said, “On rejection of Lauretta Onochie’s nomination as INEC Commissioner, I commend the Senate for listening to Nigerians. This portends great hope for democracy and I hope the NASS (National Assembly) can go further by subjecting itself more to what represents the interest of Nigerians. Congrats Nigerians!”
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, also reacted saying, “So the defeat of idiocy is complete today! House of Rep Member, Emeka Chinedu Martins, has withdrawn his anti-protest bill from further consideration at the House of Representatives, Lauretta Onochie’s career at INEC Nigeria has kissed the toilet and Olusegun Odebunmi Bunvic’s anti-media bill is down the drain. A people united can never be defeated. Three down, several more to go!”
Another rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, reacted, “This is the second time Lauretta Onochie @Laurestar has been rejected by the Senate! Wouldn’t put it past Buhari to send her name again.”
“I commend the Senate for dropping Lauretta Onochie. I did not want to say anything while the process was ongoing, but by nominating such an odious and pedestrian person, Buhari showed that even the little tolerance we have for him is wasted. The man has no honour,” said former Presidential aide, Reno Omokri.
Other Nigerians also took to Twitter to commend the Senate on Onochie’s rejection.
A tweep, @OgbeniDipo, wrote, “The Presidency should never have nominated someone like Lauretta Onochie as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the first place. It’s good that the Senate bowed to sensible pressure and rejected her nomination.”
Another tweep, @FS_Yusuf_, tweeted, “Rejection of Lauretta Onochie for INEC commissioner position, is a win for our democracy. But in the first place, she shouldn’t have been nominated but it’s Buhari na. Anything undemocratic goes.”(sic)
“Shameless and partisan Lauretta Onochie rejected by the Senate. All hope is not lost after all. Our shouting is always important,” @adeyanjudeji said.
@chiomachuka tweeted, “So the Senate has rejected the nomination of Lauretta Onochie for appointment as National Commissioner for INEC. A big well done to citizens for speaking up against what would have been an aberration. Let us never forget however, that this nomination was made in the first place.”
