Senate Scrutinizes Tinubu’s Nominee Michael Odey as RSIEC Chair Amid Rivers Crisis
The Senate Committee on Emergency Administration has expressed serious concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Michael Odey — a native of Cross River State — as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). Lawmakers fear the appointment of a non-indigene could undermine public trust and accountability in the state’s politically charged environment.
Odey, along with six others, was nominated in May to head the electoral commission during a period of emergency rule in Rivers State. His screening on Tuesday at the National Assembly drew tough questions from members of the 18-man committee, led by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
Bamidele emphasized that while the RSIEC law doesn’t explicitly forbid the appointment of non-indigenes, political realities and public sentiment must be factored in. “Even if there is no legal restriction, we must be able to defend this decision in principle. It has to be something that does not offend the public conscience,” he said.
CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE BELOW AFTER THESE IMPORTANT NOTICES
Log in to primsol.lawpavilion.com and store.lawpavilion.com to enjoy the best E-journals, textbooks, and many more. For further enquiries/assistance, send an email to customercare@lawpavilion.com or call 08050298729
Odey defended his nomination, arguing that his non-indigene status would allow him to remain impartial. “I’m not beholden to any local interests. I will uphold the rules with fairness,” he said. He also acknowledged public distrust of state electoral commissions, often accused of bias toward incumbent governors, and pledged to rebuild credibility through transparency and inclusivity.
He further argued that scrapping state electoral commissions (SIECs) would harm grassroots democracy, stating, “Local elections are the closest to the people. Eliminating SIECs would erode federalism.”
The Senate committee is expected to make a recommendation soon on whether to confirm his nomination.
This development comes amid an ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. In March, President Tinubu declared a six-month emergency in the state, suspending all elected officials — including Governor Siminalayi Fubara — and appointing retired Naval Chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator. The move, ratified by the National Assembly under Section 305(2) of the Constitution, has sparked backlash.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the South-South Governors’ Forum have condemned the emergency as unconstitutional. Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri, chair of the forum, argued the situation in Rivers didn’t meet the threshold for emergency rule. In protest, the NBA relocated its annual conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget proposal for Rivers State, submitted during the emergency period, has now passed second reading in the Senate.
FOR SUPPORT TO BARRISTERNG BLOG, DONATE TO: 1. NAIRA ACCOUNT: 1023046978 - UBA 2. USD ACCOUNT: 5090743566 - FIDELITY BANK PLC
Call Bridget Edokwe Esq on 08060798767 or send your articles to barristerngblog@gmail.com
A Must-Have for Every Lawyer: Order Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye’s Latest Books on Electronic Evidence Today: To order your copies, click the link below and order directly from the author:
https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/
SHOP NOW
The Price is 10k for Hard Copy less freight and 5k for E- Book copy in the Store of the Website. https://buokorie.com/store/ To access the hard copy, Call - 07087622283
