The Senate Committee overseeing the emergency administration in Rivers State has raised significant concerns over the nomination of Michael Odey as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), citing his non-indigene status and its implications on public perception and accountability.
During Odey’s screening on Tuesday at the National Assembly, members of the 18-man committee led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) questioned the wisdom behind appointing a native of Cross River State to oversee elections in politically sensitive Rivers State.
Odey was nominated in May by President Bola Tinubu alongside six others — Lezaasi Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive Bruce, and Chidi Halliday — to constitute the RSIEC. Their nominations were forwarded to the National Assembly for screening and confirmation.
The announcement triggered immediate backlash from several political actors and civil society groups in Rivers State who insisted that such a sensitive role should be reserved for an indigene to ensure local ownership and trust in the electoral process.
Chairman of the committee, Bamidele, acknowledged that the law establishing RSIEC may not expressly prohibit non-indigenes from holding the position, but stressed that public interest and political realities must also be considered.
“This is not a matter we are going to gloss over. Even if there is no legal restriction, we must be able to defend this decision in principle. It has to be something that does not offend the public conscience,” Bamidele said.
Defending his nomination, Mr Odey told the lawmakers that his appointment aligns with the provisions of the RSIEC law and that his non-indigene status was an asset rather than a liability.
“I’m not from Rivers State, so I’m not beholden to any local interests. I will uphold the rules, procedures, and timelines with impartiality,” he stated.
Odey also addressed broader concerns about the credibility of state electoral commissions, which critics argue are often tools for incumbent governors to manipulate local elections.
“Yes, there is public distrust of state electoral bodies due to interference and lack of transparency. But I believe with my presence, we can rebuild stakeholder trust. Electoral processes must be transparent and inclusive to counter misinformation and foster credibility,” he added.
On the relevance of SIECs in Nigeria’s federal structure, Odey defended their continued existence, describing them as essential to grassroots democracy.
“Local government elections are the closest to the people. Scrapping SIECs would undermine federalism and local autonomy,” he said.
The Senate committee is expected to make a recommendation soon on whether to confirm Odey’s nomination.
This scrutiny comes in the wake of a contentious political crisis in Rivers State. In March, President Tinubu suspended all elected officials in the state, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator under a six-month emergency rule — a move ratified by the National Assembly under Section 305(2) of the Constitution.
However, the emergency declaration and subsequent appointments have drawn criticism from the Nigerian Bar Association and the South-South Governors’ Forum. Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri, chair of the forum, argued that the situation in Rivers did not warrant an emergency under Section 305(3) of the Constitution.
The NBA also condemned the developments as unconstitutional, arguing that the President lacked the authority to remove a democratically elected governor. In protest, the NBA relocated its annual conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s proposed ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget for Rivers State — submitted to the National Assembly during the emergency rule — has passed second reading in the Senate.
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