I’ve no partisanship in my blood: President Mohammadu Buhari’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, has denied her membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) three times at the upper chamber on July 8.
Recall that Onochie (Delta), Professor Muhammad Sani Kallah (Katsina), Professor Kunle Cornelius Ajayi (Ekiti), Saidu Babura Ahmad (Jigawa), Prof. Sani Muhammad Adam (North Central), and Dr Baba Bila (North East) were nominated as INEC National Commissioners by President Muhammad Buhari on October 12.
Shortly after her nomination, some Nigerians, including civil society organizations and the PDP, came out to oppose it, noting that She would be unable to discharge her duties fairly because she is a member of the ruling APC.
During her screening by members of the Senate Committee on INEC, Onochie stated that she had left the APC and had stopped volunteering with the Buhari Support Organization (BSO) since 2019.
Onochie, however, denied her membership of the ruling APC three times and told the Committee that she stopped being a card-carrying member of the APC in 2019 after Buhari was re-elected for a second term.
“I have learned over the years to stand with the constitution and due process but not on partisanship or sentiments. Since 2019, I have not had anything to do with any political organisation, including Buhari support groups.
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”When APC was doing re-validation of party members, I did not take part in that exercise. As I’m sitting down here, I’m not a member of any political party in this country. I’ve no partisanship in my blood. She told the lawmakers.
Reacting to her claim, Senator Lawal Gumau (Bauchi South), supported Senator Opeyemi Bamidele’s suggestion that Onochie be put under oath after she denied her membership of the APC.
Senator Ekeremadu and Dickson, however, were opposed to the idea, arguing that Senate Rules prohibit any nominee from being placed on oath during screening.
Senator Kabiru Gaya, Chairman of the Committee, overruled the suggestion in order to avoid violating Senate Standing Orders on screening of nominees
Gaya stated that the panel’s report would be submitted to the Senate plenary for consideration and possible approval next week after he adjourned sitting.
