A Nigerian senate committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the screening of Lauretta Onochie as commissioner of the electoral body. xNigeria President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Onochie, his current aide on social media as an INEC commissioner in October 2020. Senate President Ahmad Lawan directed the senate committee on INEC to screen Onochie — eight months after Buhari sent her name for confirmation. xThey argued that the act that established INEC stated clearly that an individual is partisan or a member of a political party should not be an umpire in the country’s electoral body. While Onochie’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, Senate spokesman Ajibola Basiru asked Nigerians to petition the upper legislative chamber if they think she is not qualified for the position.

Source: The Guardian July 08, 2021 12:56 UTC