Wednesday, 9th June 2021: The screening of Presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, as a commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission has been condemned by a cross section of Nigerians on social media.

CEOAFRICA had earlier reported that the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, had asked the Senate Committee on INEC to screen Onochie and five others for confirmation as INEC commissioners.

It was learnt that members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the red chamber disagreed with Onochie’s appointment, stating that she’s a presidential spokesperson and a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress.

Some Nigerians on Twitter have also faulted the decision of the Senate to appoint Onochie as an INEC commissioner.

A tweep, @ochuksk, wrote, “Her confirmation portends danger to the independence of INEC in an already polarised nation where the voice of secessionists rent the air every now and then.”

Another tweep, @blez_heji, tweeted, “A partisan politician as INEC commissioner? This country has been taken many years backwards.”

@dareseun tweeted, “How do you make an interested party member an umpire in a duel? How does it make sense to the people that put forward the nomination in the first place let alone the ones conducting the screening? It’s absolutely insane!”

“Lauretta Onochie has no business being the INEC commissioner. She’s partisan and that alone disqualifies her! It’s like telling a known Arsenal fan to be the referee in a match between Arsenal and Manchester United. Do we have a rule of law anymore in this country?” @ken2morgan asked.

@africatherapist tweeted, “The system doesn’t allow votes alone to determine who wins elections here. We need to understand what we’re up against to prepare well.”

“Lauretta Onochie, an unapologetic APC member, as INEC commissioner is mind-blowing for me. The things happening in Nigeria are unthinkable,” @Biraphil noted.

@BankolePh tweeted, “This does not elicit confidence in the coming 2023 elections. It seems this government is feeling invincible and unstoppable in their impunity.”