Senate Probes Non-Indigene Nominee for Rivers Electoral Commission Chair
ABUJA, NIGERIA — June 18, 2025 | By IDNN Legislative Desk
Controversy erupted at the Senate screening session for nominees to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) when lawmakers sharply questioned the eligibility of Michael Odey, a nominee from Cross River State, to serve as chairman of the electoral body.
Odey’s non-indigene status became a flashpoint, particularly due to the fact that he hails from the same state as the controversial Sole Administrator of Rivers, Ibok Ekwe Ibas.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, who chairs the Adhoc Committee on the Emergency Rule in Rivers, expressed concern over the public perception and legal soundness of the nomination.
“Even if the law is silent, we must consider whether this appointment would be repugnant to public conscience,” Bamidele warned.
Odey, in his defense, insisted that the RSIEC enabling law does not preclude the appointment of non-indigenes.
“I have gone through the law thoroughly. It does not say the chair must be a native of the state,” he said.
Still, the committee expressed dissatisfaction and demanded a copy of the law for independent review. Lawmakers questioned whether appointing someone from outside Rivers State to such a strategic role could set a dangerous precedent and undermine local trust in the electoral process.
Legal Vacuum or Loophole?
While Odey maintained that his nomination is lawful, senators warned that legality alone isn’t sufficient justification.
“State Independent Electoral Commissions are about the state. This is not INEC. Local acceptability and fairness matter,” Senator Bamidele stated.
The committee adjourned Odey’s assessment pending a re-examination of the RSIEC legal framework.
Other Nominees
Other RSIEC nominees—Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive Bruce, and Chidi Halliday—also faced screenings, but Odey’s case has drawn the most scrutiny due to its potential constitutional and political implications.
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