Deji Adeyanju, convener of Concerned Nigerian, has urged the United States, US, to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari not to destroy the integrity and independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Adeyanju made the appeal while condemning Buhari’s nomination of his aide, Lauretta Onochie as an INEC Commissioner.
The activist explained that Onochie’s nomination was unconstitutional and illegal.
In a letter to the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Adeyanju described Onochie as partisan and a staunch member of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
According to the activist, Nigeria’s constitution prohibits card-carrying members of a political party from becoming an INEC official.
He, therefore, urged the US Ambassador to prevail on Buhari to rescind his nomination.
Adeyanju said: “Nomination of Lauretta Onochie: Prevail on President Buhari not to Destroy the Independence of INEC.
“We write to you as friends of Nigeria and strong democratic partners of our nation on the above subject matter.
“President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of his Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner from Delta State is a reprehensible attempt to destroy the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s electoral commission.
“Lauretta Onochie is an openly partisan, card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s ruling party, who constantly attacks and denigrates critics of the ruling party.
“Her appointment is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void, and unacceptable to the generality of the Nigerian people. We appeal to you to pressure President Buhari to rescind this appoint as it is capable of reversing the gains made in our electoral processes.”
