Appointment of non-indigene as Rivers electoral commission chairman tears senators apart

• There was a rowdy league astatine the Senate connected Wednesday implicit the confirmation of Michael Odey, a Cross River State indigene, appointed arsenic president of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC)
• Nigerian senators, including Borno Senator Ali Ndume, Bauchi Senator Abdul Ningi, argued connected the merit of nominating a non-indigene, and debated implicit the rule of national character
• The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, intervened successful the statement and noted that determination was nary law obstruction to appointing non-indigenes to specified roles

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has implicit 2 years of acquisition covering governmental parties and movements.

There was commotion connected the level of the Senate pursuing the screening and support of the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio was absent portion the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, presided implicit the session. Photo credit: Nigerian Senate
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Odey’s confirmation arsenic RSIEC seat stirs caller controversy

The league became contentious aft lawmakers argued connected the merit of nominating a non-indigene, Michael Odey, arsenic Chairman of RSIEC, an assignment that drew beardown objections from respective absorption lawmakers.

The league became rowdy during plenary aft Opeyemi Bamidele, Chairperson of the Senate advertisement hoc committee connected the exigency rule, presented a study connected the screening of the nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to service arsenic nationalist officials successful Rivers state, including the nominee for president of the RSIEC.

In the report, Mr Bamidele, besides the legislature leader, named Michael Odey, a autochthonal of Cross River State, arsenic the nominee for president of the electoral commission.

The Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, besides hails from Cross River state.

Mr Odey was nominated alongside six others – Lezaasi Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive Bruce, and Chidi Halliday, each appointed to service arsenic members of the electoral body.

Objection implicit nominee’s origin

However, the statement took a contentious crook erstwhile Abdul Ningi, the Bauchi Central Senatorial District senator, objected to Mr Odey’s nomination.

Mr Ningi, a subordinate of the absorption Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), argued that appointing idiosyncratic who is not an indigene of Rivers State to caput its electoral committee undermines transparency and section representation.

Supporting the objection, Borno South Senator Ali Ndume, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) stated determination should beryllium inclusiveness and nationalist spot successful specified an appointment.

“Yes, it whitethorn not beryllium constitutional, but we indispensable transportation the radical along. There are qualified individuals wrong Rivers State, and appointing from extracurricular sends the incorrect signal,” helium said.

Senate rules

The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided implicit the session, intervened successful the debate, aligning with the statement that determination was nary law obstruction to appointing non-indigenes to specified roles.

Mr Jibrin past ruled successful favour of the confirmation, approving Mr Odey arsenic president of the RSIEC, alongside the six different members.

Read much astir Rivers here:

• "I ne'er backed exigency regularisation successful Rivers" - Wike
• Sole head of Rivers authorities confirms assignment of 11 caller imperishable secretaries
• “I’m laying instauration for bully governance,” Rivers sole head explains

"Rivers 2025 fund plans for Fubara’s return" - Ibas

Legit.ng earlier reported that the sole head of Rivers state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, presented the projected 1.48 trillion 2025 budget for the authorities earlier the House of Representatives.

He revealed to the House of Representatives that the projected 2025 fund makes provisions for suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara's instrumentality to bureau aft the expiration of the six-month exigency rule.

President Bola Tinubu connected March 18, 2025, suspended the politician and declared a authorities of exigency successful Rivers amid the governmental crisis.

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Source: Legit.ng