The Senate Adhoc Committee on the Emergency Rule in Rivers State has commenced the screening of nominees for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), but controversy erupted over the nomination of Michael Odey as Chairman of the electoral body.
Odey, who hails from Cross River State, faced scrutiny from the committee, chaired by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, due to concerns about his non-indigene status, particularly as he is from the same state as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok Ekwe Ibas.
In his defense, Odey argued that his appointment does not violate the legal framework guiding RSIEC.
“With utmost respect, I have gone through the RSIEC’s enabling law, and there is nothing that precludes the appointment of anybody outside the state as chairman of the electoral management body,” he said.
However, Senator Bamidele voiced serious concerns, noting that legal silence on the issue does not erase its political and constitutional implications.
“We are also in possession of the law, so make it available to the committee because in my opinion, the Independent National Electoral Commission is about the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When we say State Independent Electoral Commission, it is about that state,” he said.
The Senate Leader emphasized that beyond legality, the public perception and potential precedent set by such an appointment must be examined critically.
“This is not a matter we are just going to gloss over. It has to be something we can defend. Even if the law does not prohibit such an appointment, we must ensure it is not repugnant to public conscience,” Bamidele stated.
He concluded that the committee would revisit the RSIEC law to clarify eligibility requirements and assess whether such an appointment could set an acceptable precedent going forward.
Other nominees screened for membership of the commission include Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive A. Bruce, and Chidi Halliday.
