Abuja, FCT – The Senate Committee overseeing the emergency rule in Rivers State on Tuesday voiced significant concerns regarding the nomination of Mr. Michael Odey as the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). The 18-member committee, chaired by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), raised questions during Mr. Odey’s screening at the National Assembly.
Mr. Odey, a native of Cross River State, was nominated in May by President Bola Tinubu to lead the electoral body, along with six other proposed members: Lezaasi Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive Bruce, and Chidi Halliday. Their names were formally transmitted to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation. Notably, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas, also hails from Cross River State.
Since its announcement, Mr. Odey’s nomination has drawn considerable criticism, particularly from political stakeholders in Rivers State. Critics argue that such a sensitive and crucial position should be reserved for a qualified indigene to ensure local ownership, accountability, and public trust in the electoral process. Conversely, some individuals support the President’s decision, contending that competence and impartiality should take precedence over state of origin, especially within the current politically charged environment in Rivers State.
Addressing these public concerns, Senator Bamidele affirmed that the committee would not overlook the issue of Mr. Odey’s non-indigene status. He emphasized that while the law might not explicitly prohibit non-indigenes from holding such positions, the committee’s decision must be defensible in principle and serve the broader public interest.
“This is not a matter we are just going to gloss over, and it has to be something that we can defend. We must find that defense as stated in the law, even if there is nothing in the law saying you cannot be from outside of the state,” Senator Bamidele stated. “Even if nothing says that, we still will need to look at it to be sure that it’s not something that would be repugnant to the public conscience. It has to be something that we’re able to defend. So we’ll take a second look at that, perhaps the eligibility criteria, otherwise, that’s not in doubt. But your appointment as RSIEC has raised a new issue for us to look at so that we know whether it’s something that can serve as a precedent or not.”
Nominee’s Defense of Neutrality
In his defense, Mr. Odey asserted that his nomination fully aligns with the provisions of the law establishing RSIEC. “I have gone through the RSIEC’s enabling law, and there is nothing that precludes an appointment of anybody outside the state as chairman of the electoral management body in the state,” he affirmed.
Acknowledging his non-indigene status, Mr. Odey presented it as an advantage, arguing that it would guarantee neutrality in the conduct of local government elections. “I’m not from Rivers State, so I don’t know anybody that is going to influence me to do anything otherwise because I will keep to the rules, I keep to the procedures, I will keep to the timelines. I’m going to remain neutral and impartial,” he declared.
Responding to questions about widespread calls for the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) due to their perceived susceptibility to manipulation by state governors, Mr. Odey defended their existence within Nigeria’s federal structure. “Well, this is also tied, in my opinion, to the principle of federalism. So if we are practicing federalism, I think that the sub-nationals should be allowed to handle local government elections because that gives them a sense of independence,” he explained.
He candidly acknowledged the public distrust in state electoral commissions, often attributed to a lack of transparency and political interference. “It’s a matter of integrity. We should be able to do our jobs, acknowledge any lapses and procedural ineffectiveness, and accept that where we err, we will correct it, not remain in self-denial. So I believe that with my presence there as the chairman, the important thing first is the stakeholders’ collaboration,” Odey concluded. He added, “From experiences, if you’re operating an opaque electoral process where the stakeholders are not brought into the electoral value chain, there is a tendency that there will be gaps and rumours, and those gaps are bound to be filled with misinformation.”
The Senate committee is expected to make a decision soon on whether to confirm Mr. Odey’s appointment.
