ABUJA, Nigeria — The Senate has raised concerns after Rivers State’s administrator, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas appointed Dr Michael Ekpai Odey, an indigene of Cross River State, as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), questioning the legality and propriety of a non-indigene heading another state’s electoral body.
The matter came under scrutiny on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, as the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State commenced the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for RSIEC.
The screening exercise was led by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), who also chairs the Ad-Hoc Committee.
During the session, Bamidele declared that the committee would conduct a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding Odey’s nomination and consider whether such a precedent aligns with the law and public expectations.
“We are also in possession of the law. So just telling you to make it available to the Committee is a polite way of saying that we need to take a second look at it,” Bamidele said.
“Even if nothing says that [a non-indigene cannot be appointed], we still will need to look at it to be sure that it’s not something that would be repugnant to public conscience.”
The controversy follows a letter submitted by President Tinubu and read in plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday, June 12, 2025, nominating Odey and six others as members of the RSIEC board.
The full list includes:
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Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey – Chairman
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Mr. Lezaasi Lenee Torbira – Member
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Professor Arthur Nwafor – Member
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Professor Godfrey Woke Mbudiogha – Member
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Professor (Dame) Joyce Akaniwor – Member
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Dr. (Mrs.) Olive A. Bruce – Member
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Professor Chidi Halliday – Member
The appointment of Odey, who hails from the same state as Rivers’ Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has sparked debate over the legal and moral grounds of such nominations.
Responding to questions during the screening, Dr Odey acknowledged he is not from Rivers State but cited the RSIEC law as not excluding non-indigenes from being appointed.
“With utmost respect, I also have gone through the RSIEC’s enabling law, and there is nothing that precludes an appointment of anybody outside the state as chairman of the electoral management body in the state,” he said.
Pressed on whether he possessed a copy of the law, Odey admitted: “No, I don’t have it, I went through it.”
Odey defended his integrity and neutrality, stating that his non-indigene status would insulate him from political influence.
“I don’t know anybody that is going to influence me to do anything otherwise because I will keep to the rules, I will keep to the procedures, I will keep to the timelines. I’m going to remain neutral and impartial,” he said.
On calls to abolish state electoral commissions over alleged bias, Odey supported their retention, citing the principles of federalism.
“If we are practising federalism, I think that the sub-nationals should be allowed to handle local government election, because that gives them a sense of independence,” he added.
He emphasised transparency and stakeholder engagement as core tenets of his approach.
“If you’re operating an opaque electoral process… there is a tendency that there will be gaps and rumours,” he said, promising to “carry all the stakeholders in the electoral process on board.”
The Senate committee is expected to complete screening of other nominees to the Rivers State Civil Service Commission and the Local Government Service Commission by next week.
Appointees to the Civil Service Commission include:
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Dr. Livinus Bariki – Chairman
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Amb. Lot Peter Egopija – Member
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Mrs. Maeve Ere Bestman – Member
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Mrs. Joy Obiaju – Member
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Mrs. Charity Lloyd Harry – Member
Appointees to the Local Government Service Commission include:
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Mr. Israel N. Amadi – Chairman
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Mr. Linus Nwandem – Member
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Lady Christabel Ego George Didia – Member
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Dr. Tonye Willie D. Pepple – Member
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Barr. Richard Ewoh – Member
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Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (Rtd) – Member
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Dr. Sammy Apiafi – Member
The Senate is expected to receive and consider the committee’s report on the RSIEC nominees within two weeks.
