Muhamadu Buhari, the Nigerian president, has withdrawn the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and replaced her with May Agbamuche Mbu.

This was contained in a letter sent to the national assembly and read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. Mbu and Onochie both hail from Delta State, ruling out Onochie’s chances based on the federal character principle.

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Onochie, an adviser to the president on media, was rejected by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Senate on the grounds that she is a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Other National Commissioner nominees include Mohammed Haruna, Niger State; Okeagu Kenneth Nnamdi, Abia State; and AB Alkali, Adamawa State.

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Among Buhari’s new nominees is Muazu Jaji Sambo, a Taraba State indigene, who is to replace Mamman Sale, former Minister of Power who hails from the same state.