Once Buhari’s ‘attack dog’, Lauretta Onochie turns anti-Tinubu protester at Occupy National Assembly

Former presidential aide and ex-chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, has graduated into the ranks of street protesters at the National Assembly, amplifying calls for stronger democratic safeguards and mandatory electronic transmission of election results.

Onochie, once regarded as a prominent defender of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who earned notoriety for attacking anti-Buhari individuals, and widely described as a poster figure of his media machinery, has in recent months sharpened her criticism of the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

Her presence at the Occupy National Assembly protest signaled an escalation in that posture.

Addressing reporters at the rally mobilised to favour automatic transmission of election results, Lauretta Onochie declared: “I have come to show solidarity with other Nigerians because in a democratic setting everyone has one vote and the majority at the end of the day carries the day.”

Her statement came amid public anger over the senate’s refusal to make real-time electronic transmission of election results compulsory in the Electoral Act amendment. Protesters argue that weakening the provision risks eroding public trust in the electoral process.

Onochie’s participation was symbolically significant. As a former Buhari aide and later NDDC chairman, she had once fiercely defended government positions and frequently sparred with opposition figures. However, in recent months she has openly faulted aspects of the Tinubu administration, including governance style and perceived institutional lapses

Observers say Monday’s protest marks a clear evolution in her public engagement — from establishment defender to vocal advocate for electoral transparency. While critics may see political undertones, supporters argue that her intervention reflects a broader call for credible elections across party lines.

The Occupy National Assembly rally drew activists, civil society organisations and concerned citizens demanding that lawmakers restore stronger electronic transmission provisions before final passage of the bill.

With her declaration that “everyone has one election vote,” Lauretta Onochie’s voice added an unexpected but potent dimension to the protest — one that underscores the intensifying debate over Nigeria’s democratic future.