The Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have started the screening of the nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari as national commissioners of INEC.

The president’s nomination of Ms Lauretta Onochie as Delta State’s representative on the commission has drawn a lot of flak from Nigerians. The criticisms are anchored on the fact that Onochie who is an incumbent Special Assistant to the President on Social Media is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

It is on record that since the year 2015, she has been a strong voice for the defence of both President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. Onochie campaigned vigorously for the election of Buhari and his re-election.

The committee which is being chaired by Senator Kabiru Gaya is also screening four other nominees for  appointment as INEC commissioners.  They are Messrs  Kunle Cornelius, Saidu Ahmad, Sani Adam and Baba Bila.

Many Nigerians have called on the president to withdraw the nomination of Onochie on the grounds that it breaches the provisions of the constitution as they relate to appointment of representatives as Commissioners of INEC. Many of the critics think it would be undemocratic for her to be appointed into such an office.