*Sends Confidential Memo To Presidency To Reconsider Nominee
The Senate has quietly kicked against the nomination of the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ms Lauretta Onochie as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) representing the South-South geo-political zone.
The New Diplomat’s checks reveal that the Senate leadership has urged the presidency to reconsider her nomination in view of her role as a card carrying member of the ruling political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), a development which amounts to a violation of the Nigerian constitution.
It was learnt that the leadership of the Senate on Wednesday night, dispatched a confidential memo to the presidency following president Buhari’s nomination of Ms Onochie as an INEC commissioner representing South South geo-political zone. 
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It was gathered that the Senate leadership identified , and enumerated reasons why it would amount to constitutional infractions and breaches if Ms Onochie is confirmed as nominated by president Buhari.
Among the reasons, the Upper chambers listed, it was gathered include her open membership of a political party, the ruling APC.
Recall that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and various Civil Society Organisations (CSO) had kicked against her nomination by President Buhari.
Buhari had in a letter read at Senate plenary on Tuesday by Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, requested the upper chamber to confirm his social media aide, Onochie, as well as three others, namely Prof. Mohammed Sani from Katsina State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi of Ekiti State and Malam Seidu Ahmed from Jigawa as INEC commissioners.
But the Senate minority caucus on Wednesday kicked against her nomination as INEC national commissioner, citing grave constitutional violations on the part of the president by nominating her for the role.
The caucus led by Senate Minority Leader and PDP member, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the nomination of Onochie was contrary to the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
He said, “President Buhari by nominating Loretta Onochie has willfully gone against the constitution that he swore to uphold.
“Item F, paragraph 14 of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) forbids a card-carrying member of a political party to be a member of INEC.
“The minority caucus of the Senate is against this nomination and call on Mr President to withdraw it.”
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Also the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 CSOs monitoring electoral process in the country had condemned her nomination, describing Onochie as a member of the APC, a political party.
Also, the PDP spokesman, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan had described the nomination as “Buhari’s partisan supporter and urged Buhari to withdraw her name without delay as it is a provocative assault on the nation’s constitution and democratic process.”
He added that Buhari has “failed to fulfil his promise of leaving a legacy of credible elections, having failed in all ramifications of governance.”
