Former Senator of Bayelsa State, Ben Murray-Bruce, has refused the appointment of an aide of President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie, as a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Buhari had in the last quarter of 2020 appointed Onochie as an INEC Commissioner.
However, Onochie’s appointment was greeted with heavy criticisms as many said a partisan individual like her should not be an electoral umpire.
The criticisms didn’t seem tenable, as today being Wednesday, Onochie was screened for the new job at the Senate as requested by President Buhari.
Disturbed by the development, Senator Murray-Bruce claimed Onochie’s appointment would undermine the electoral commission.
While saying INEC should be devoid of bias, Murray-Bruce described Onochie as being very politically partisan, appealing to Buhari to review the appointment.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission must be devoid of any political bias. Appointing persons like Lauretta Onochie, who is very politically partisan, will undermine INEC. I appeal to the President to reconsider this nomination and leave a legacy of a credible INEC,” Murray-Bruce said in a post via his social media handle.
