The Nigerian Senate has expressed strong reservations over the appointment of Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey, an indigene of Cross River State, as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
During the screening exercise conducted by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers Emergency Rule, led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), members questioned the propriety and legality of appointing someone from another state to head the commission.
It is noteworthy that the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), who made the nomination, also hails from Cross River State, further fueling the Senate’s concerns over potential external influence in the state’s electoral processes.
When asked about his status as a non-indigene of Rivers State during the screening, Dr. Odey defended his nomination, insisting that the RSIEC enabling law did not bar persons from outside the state from being appointed as chairman of the body.
“With utmost respect, I also 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 said.
However, when asked whether he had a copy of the RSIEC Act, Dr. Odey admitted, “No, I don’t have it, I went through it.”
Senator Bamidele raised concerns, saying that even if the law does not clearly prohibit it, the decision to appoint someone from outside the state should not be taken lightly and needs careful consideration.
He said, “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.”
“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,” the lawmaker added.
On what personal integrity he would bring to the conduct of local government elections in Rivers State, Odey stated: “First and foremost, on character and indigene-ship, 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.”
Responding to concerns about the calls for the scrapping of state independent electoral commissions over fears of manipulation, he emphasized the importance of federalism.
“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 election, because that gives them a sense of independence. Yes, we agree that this is the closest election to the grassroots. It is very emotive. People are very concerned and there is a tendency for the Governor of the state, arguably so, to control that institution and mortgage its integrity. That is my own opinion.”
He further assured the lawmakers that transparency and inclusivity would guide his leadership if confirmed.
Other nominees screened by the panel as members of the commission were Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive A. Bruce, and Chidi Halliday.
