The Senate has declined the confirmation of Ms Lauretta Onochie for appointment as National Commissioner representing Delta State, at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Upper House, however, confirmed five other nominees, including Professor Muhammad Sani Kallah, (Katsina), Professor Kunle Ajayi (Ekiti), Saidu Ahmad (Jigawa), Dr Baba Bila (North-East) and Professor Abdullahi Zuru (North-West).
Their confirmation followed the adoption of the report of the Committee on the screening of the INEC nominees at plenary on Tuesday.
The nomination of Onochie was rejected by the Senate for reasons bordering on potential violation of the Federal Character Principle.
Committee Chairman, Kabiru Gaya (APC-Kano), while presenting the report of the screening of the nominees, told the Senate that it was against the federal character principle to have two persons from the same state as INEC National Commissioner.
He cited the presence of Mrs. May Agbamuche Mbu from Delta, as a National Commissioner of INEC, as the Senate also stood down the confirmation of Professor Sani Adam (North-Central) for further legislative work.
