Controversy Trails Tinubu’s Appointment of Michael Odey as Rivers Electoral Commission Chairman

There are strong reactions to the nomination of Michael Odey as the new chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

Odey, originally from Cross River State, is not an indigene of Rivers State.

This issue has attracted extra attention as the current Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, also hails from Cross River. Many political observers say that having two top state officials from outside Rivers raises questions about fair representation and the motive for the appointments.

Michael Odey defended his appointment during his screening session before the Senate panel. He argued that nothing in the RSIEC enabling law disqualifies him from the role.

“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 said.

Senate Leader Questions Public Acceptance of Nomination

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who heads the screening committee, raised concerns over the broader impact of appointing a non-indigene to lead a state electoral body.

“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,” he told Odey.

Bamidele explained that even though the law might not directly forbid such an appointment, it could still raise doubts about fairness and political balance. He added, “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 noted that appointments to local electoral bodies should reflect principles of federalism and local identity. The Senate committee plans to review the legal framework guiding such appointments in RSIEC to ensure it serves the best interests of the host state.

Other Nominees Screened Alongside Odey

Along with Odey, the Senate also screened six other nominees for membership in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission. They include Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive A. Bruce, and Chidi Halliday.

The committee did not raise the same concerns for these individuals, most of whom have direct ties to Rivers State. The session ended with a promise by the panel to submit its final recommendations after further review.

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