The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, on Wednesday, at the plenary read the nomination letters sent to the senate by the president naming 14 others as members of the board.

Onochie is currently the Special Adviser on Social Media to the president.

A Presidency source said “The fact that President Muhammadu Buhari — who made the nomination — had not chosen to withdraw it shows that he still has faith in the process and Onochie’s candidature is viable. So far, he hasn’t withdrawn his confidence in Onochie.”

Onochie’s nomination attracted public outcry because of her open partisanship and the fact that her appointment would have amounted to a breach of the federal character principle.

The Chairman of the Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), had disclosed that the petitions against the Presidential aide were against the backdrop of her involvement in politics and alleged membership of a political party.

Gaya said, “In the case of Ms Lauretta Onochie, we studied her curriculum vitae and other relevant documents, followed by exhaustive interaction around the petitions against her nomination which she responded to accordingly, including attesting that she is not a registered member of any political party.”

Okolo advised the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), 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 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.”

According to a report by the Chairman of the Committee, Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), Onochie did not satisfy the provisions of the Federal Character Principles.

The Senate at the committee of the whole subsequently voted against her nomination.

Senator Gaya, in his presentation, said the Committee received several petitions against the nominations of Ms. Lauretta Onochie and Professor Sani Muhammad Adam.

He disclosed that the petitions against Lauretta Onochie were against the backdrop that her involvement in politics and alleged membership of a political party.

He explained further that her nomination violated the Federal Character Principle as there is already a serving National Electoral Commissioner from Delta State, Barr. Mary Agbamuche-Mbu who was screened and confirmed by the 8th Senate.

“In the case of Ms. Lauretta Onochie’s, having studied her curriculum vitae and other relevant documents, followed by exhaustive interaction around the petitions against her nomination which she responded to accordingly, including attesting that she is not a registered member of any political party,” Gaya said.

According to the lawmaker, the Committee bound by the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amendment) on Federal Character Principle, refused to recommend Onochie for confirmation.

“Therefore, based on the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) on Federal Character Principle as earlier stated, and in order for the Committee and the Senate to achieve fairness to other states and political zones in the country, the committee is unable to recommend Ms. Lauretta Onochie for confirmation as a National Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he added.

In her opening remark during her screening as INEC national commissioner nominee by the Senate Committee on INEC, Onochie stated that she is not partisan but follows due process in all she does.

She said “I’ve no partisanship in my blood. I have seen many petitions against my nomination from the PDP and some APC members. I’m not partisan. They know. It is about the law. No one has any reason to fear for my nomination as INEC commissioner representing Delta. As far as I’m concerned, I’m madam due process. That’s why all the attacks. I follow due process, I follow the law.”

Recall that Trump, on Wednesday was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time.

Reacting, Onochie on her Twitter handle: “President Donald Trump has been impeached for a record 2nd time in the history of America for instigating an insurrection.

“In America, its insurrection. In Nigeria, they called it freedom of speech.

“There ought to be consequences for those who instigate violence in our nation.”

This was contained in a tweet on a verified Twitter handle of Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant on Social Media to the President.

“FireFLASHFire, FireFLASHFire President @MBuhari will address a joint session of the National Assembly (@nassnigeria) on Thursday 10th December 2020,” Onochie wrote.

This is coming a few days after the House of Representatives said Buhari would appear before the House.

A spokesperson for the Green Chamber, Ben Kalu had disclosed this while briefing journalists at the National Assembly.

Others are Prof. Mohammed Sani Katsina), Prof. Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), and Seidu Ahmed (Jigawa).

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read the letter of the on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

Onochie is the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media.