By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons With Disabilities (EVAPWD), a non-governmental organisation, has faulted the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Onochie was recently nominated as National Commissioner of INEC representing the South-South; pending the confirmation of the Senate.

The Chairman of EVAPWD, Mr. David Anyaele, said in a statement issued to newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday that the decision should be reversed in overriding public interest.

Anyaele noted that the group was highly worried on the nomination of Onochie, who had been a politically exposed person for over five years running.

“The EVAPWD is worried over the nomination of Lauretta Onochie, a foot soldier and senior sympathiser of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Media as National Commissioner of INEC.

“The honesty and integrity of Onochie to serve as an INEC official is questionable as she has been very partisan in the last five years.

“Hence, Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) prohibits a person with questionable integrity from serving as a member of INEC,” he said.

The EVAPWD boss, however, called on the Senate to reject her nomination to avoid contamination of the successes recorded so far by INEC.

“The Senate should protect the election management body from political party influences,” he added.