The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) is currently facing controversy over the nomination of Michael Odey as its chairman. Odey, who comes from Cross River State, has been questioned regarding his eligibility to lead a state electoral body in which he is not a native.
This nomination has attracted significant attention, especially since the current Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, is also from Cross River.
In defense of his appointment, Odey asserted that there are no legal barriers preventing his nomination under the RSIEC enabling law. “With utmost respect, I have reviewed the RSIEC’s enabling law, and there is nothing that prohibits the appointment of someone from outside the state as chairman of the electoral management body,” he expressed before the panel.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who chairs the committee, voiced concerns about the broader implications of appointing a non-indigene to such a vital role. “We have the law in our possession, so please provide it to the committee because, in my opinion, while the Independent National Electoral Commission serves the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria, a State Independent Electoral Commission is specifically about that state,” Bamidele stated.
He cautioned that although the law may not explicitly forbid such an appointment, it raises serious questions regarding public perception, legal consistency, and political precedent. “This is not an issue we can overlook. It must be something we can defend. Even if the law does not prohibit this appointment, we have to ensure that it does not go against public conscience,” he emphasized.
Bamidele also mentioned that the committee would reassess the eligibility criteria in the RSIEC law to ensure that the appointment aligns with the principles of federalism and local representation.
Other nominees screened for membership of the commission include Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive A. Bruce, and Chidi Halliday.
