Senate quizzes Ibas over appointment of Cross Riverian as RSIEC Chairman – Converseer

PORT HARCOURT (CONVERSEER) – The Senate has raised concerns over the appointment of Dr Michael Ekpai Odey, an indigene of Cross River State, as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), who is also from Cross River.

The issue arose on Tuesday during the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for RSIEC by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers State.

Senate Leader and Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), expressed reservations about appointing a non-indigene to head a state electoral body, stating that the matter would be thoroughly examined to determine if such a move could become a lawful precedent.

“We must look at the law again. Even if there is no express prohibition, we need to be sure that such an appointment will not be repugnant to public conscience,” Bamidele said. “We must be able to defend this decision legally and morally.”

According to Vanguard, Dr Odey, who faced questions over his eligibility and non-indigene status, told the committee that no provision in the RSIEC’s enabling law bars the appointment of persons from outside Rivers State.

“With utmost respect, I also went through the RSIEC enabling law, and there is nothing that precludes appointing someone outside the state as chairman,” he said.

However, when asked whether he possessed a copy of the RSIEC law, Dr Odey admitted he did not have one but insisted he had studied its provisions.

Defending his integrity, Dr Odey stressed that not being a Rivers indigene makes him impartial. “I do not know anyone who can influence me. I will follow due process, keep to timelines and remain neutral,” he said.

On the calls for the scrapping of state electoral commissions, Dr Odey acknowledged concerns over credibility but argued in favour of state-level electoral management under Nigeria’s federal system.

“If we are truly practising federalism, sub-national governments should be allowed to conduct their local government elections,” he said. “I believe stakeholder engagement, transparency and inclusivity are key to building public trust in the process.”

President Tinubu had nominated Dr Odey alongside six others as members of the RSIEC. The others are Mr Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof. Arthur Nwafor, Prof. Godfrey Woke Mbudiogha, Prof. (Dame) Joyce Akaniwor, Dr (Mrs) Olive A. Bruce and Prof. Chidi Halliday.

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, had read the President’s communication on the nominations during plenary on June 12, after which it was referred to the Bamidele-led Committee for legislative action. The committee is expected to report back within two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee is also screening nominees for the Rivers State Civil Service Commission and Local Government Service Commission.

Nominees for the Civil Service Commission include:

• Dr Livinus Bariki (Chairman)
• Amb. Lot Peter Egopija (Member)
• Mrs Maeve Ere Bestman (Member)
• Mrs Joy Obiaju (Member)
• Mrs Charity Lloyd Harry (Member)

For the Local Government Service Commission, the nominees are:

• Mr Israel N. Amadi (Chairman)
• Mr Linus Nwandem (Member)
• Lady Christabel Ego George Didia (Member)
• Dr Tonye Willie D. Pepple (Member)
• Barr. Richard Ewoh (Member)
• Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (Rtd) (Member)
• Dr Sammy Apiafi (Member)

Screening of all nominees is also expected to be concluded next week.