The National Executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) joined the league of Nigerians kicking against nomination of Special Assistant on new media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, as one of the National Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with a protest to the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The opposition party also vowed to retrieve seats of the lawmakers at the National Assembly who have defected from the party through litigations.
The party led by its National Chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, the PDP executives and supporters stormed the Gate of the National Assembly at about 12:30pm local time to kick against Onochie’s nomination.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman, Senate Commitee on INEC and signed by its National Secretary, Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri, PDP said Onochie being a card carrying member of a political party (APC), is not qualified for such appointment as stated in relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The party said is carried out the act to save the Senate President Ahmad Lawan and President Buhari from public ridicule.
Titled, “Rejection of the Nomination of Lauretta Onochie as INEC Commissioner” the letter reads in part;”
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has learnt of the nomination of Mrs. Lauretta Onochie as a Commissioner in INEC by Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The nomination which was read on the floor of the Senate and forwarded to your committee for screening has created a lot of misgivings in the court of public opinion and judgement.
“Our Party considers it as important to bring to the attention of your committee the fact that our duty is to let you know that the National Assembly must endeavour to do things right and in accordance with the dictates of the laws of the country.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Mr. Ndudi Elumelu, received the party executives and promised to kick against the nomination.
On the latest defection hitting the party, the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said machineries were being put in place to retrieve seats of the defectors through litigations.
He denied allegation of internal crisis or fictionalization levelled against the party by the defectors.
ILLICIT FIREARMS ACT
Meanwhile, the Nigerian senate has passed the new firearms bill following amendment to the firearms Act with two core objectives.
Senate passed the bill on Wednesday, after debate & consideration of the report of its committee on judiciary, human rights & Legal matters, chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
The major reason for the amendment include, upward review of the fine for offenders, to establish a comprehensive & coordinated disarmament process for destroying all illegal firearms by office of the National Security Adviser in order to prevent the firearms from re-entering communities.
Hauwa Mustapha
