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Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, on Thursday denied membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) three times.
This followed her being grilled intensely by Senators to determine her suitability for appointment as a National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Onochie, who appeared before the Senate Committee on INEC, said she parted ways with the APC and stopped her volunteer work with the Buhari Support Organization (BSO) since 2019.
Onochie, whose nomination has continued to generate uproar, said people and groups are only after her because of her ‘due process stance’ and belief in the rule of law.
President Muhammad Buhari had, on October 12, nominated 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) as National Commissioners of INEC.
In her opening remarks, the presidential aide said she was aware of series of petitions against her membership of the APC and the fact that someone from her state was already on the board of the INEC
She however admitted being part of the Buhari campaign organisation in 2015 before her appointment as Special Assistant on Social Media.
She also admitted having sworn to an affidavit at a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja that she was a member of the APC.
She claimed she stopped being a member of the party immediately after the 2019 elections.
Onochie said: “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.
“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.”
On petitions urging the Senate not to clear her for the job, Onochie said: “I have seen many petitions against my nomination not only from the PDP, but also from 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.”
However, an affidavit she swore to at an FCT High Court, dated 30th June, 2021 and attached to one of the petitions against her, contradicted her claims.
This post was written by Chinedu Ibeakanma.
The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.