Just In: After Rejecting Onochie’s Nomination, Senate Reveals New INEC Commissioner

– The Senate has approved the appointment of a new INEC REC

– The new nominee is Chukwuemeka Chukwu

– Chukwu, according to the Senate committee on INEC, has the requisite potential to man the office

The Independent National Electoral Commission has gotten a new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

The new appointee whose nomination was confirmed by the Senate on Tuesday, October 13, is Chukwuemeka Chukwu.

The decision of the Senate came after due consideration of the report submitted by its committee on INEC, led by Senator Kabiru Gaya.

In his submission, Senator Guya noted that Chukwu possesses the needed qualifications for the job and that his nomination has not been opposed by anyone.

On his part, the Senate president, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, congratulated the new INEC REC for getting the rare opportunity to serve his nation in this capacity.

Earlier, there was controversy over the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as commissioner of INEC.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the development as “provocative, ominous and an attack on the constitution and democratic practices.”

Speaking through its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said it rejected the nomination of Onochie who was described as a “card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Meanwhile, reactions had trailed Onochie’s nomination by the president for this office in the electoral commission.

Some Nigerians took to Twitter to express their views on the president’s nomination. Many have expressed their displeasure at Lauretta’s nomination, while others had questioned why the president will forward the name of a strong member of the ruling party.

To this end, Nigerians have called on the Senate to reject Lauretta’s nomination. A tweet said Onochie’s nomination was both offensive and partisan.

Another tweet wondered why the president would nominate someone like Onochie for the position.