Lauretta Onochie, President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on Social Media, has had her nomination as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner rejected by the Senate.

Ahmad Lawan, the President of the Senate, read out the question, asking if the Senate would approve her nomination as a Commissioner representing Delta State in INEC. “The nays have it,” he said, banging his gavel.

Onochie’s nomination by Buhari had raised ire among the public, who pointed out that she was a member of the ruling All Progressive’s Congress (APC).

In October 2020, Buhari had sent in the nomination of Onochie and three others as Commissioner of INEC to the Senate for confirmation.

At the Senate hearing, Onochie said, “Since 2019 when President Muhammad Buhari won his second term, I have removed myself from anything polictical, not even anticipating that i would be here today defending my nomination to INEC. I never envisaged it.”

On Thursday, during her screening at the Senate, Onochie insisted she had not participated in any partisan politics since 2019 in Nigeria. “Even Buhari Support Organisation I have not had anything to do with them.”

She further stated that she did not take part in revalidating her membership as an APC member. “As I am siting down here I am not a member of any political party in this country.”

Onochie’s nomination was heavily criticised and opposed by civil society organisations and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).