‘No reason a Rivers man can’t head RSIEC’ — Ndume, Ningi kick as senate confirms Odey

Two senators have rejected the appointment of Michael Odey, a Cross River indigene, as chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

The senate confirmed Odey on Wednesday following the submission of a report by Bamidele Opeyemi, the majority leader and chairman of the ad hoc committee on the Rivers emergency rule.

Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, objected to Odey’s nomination, citing concerns about regional representation.

“My observation is in regard to Clause 311, even though you are coming to it,” Ningi said.

“I have personally approached the senate leader as to the propriety or otherwise of bringing in someone from another state to chair a local election body.

“The senate leader had time to discuss with me. And he told me initially; they also raised this observation.

“But later on, they were brought copies of supreme court judgments as to the legality — that anybody can work anywhere in any part of the country.

“Mr chairman, let it be a record that myself, Sir Abdul Ningi, object and observe that if this thing becomes the norm, it is not going to do well going forward.

“Because I’ve been to Rivers state almost 40 years ago, and I know the quality of people in Rivers state.

“I do not see any logical reason why a Rivers man would not chair this electoral commission.

“The committee has reported. I’m okay. But let it be on record that I, for one, don’t see the necessity of having somebody from another state chairing a local election committee of another state.”

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, also echoed Ningi’s concerns.

“Let it be on record that I, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, am not against the appointment of whoever you recommended,” he said.

“But under the current circumstances, and the fact that if today you want to interview 100 or even 1,000 qualified people for this position from Rivers, you will get it to choose from.

“The federal character, section 14.3, reflects that. And as he (Ningi) rightly said, we should not, as a senate, just approve or think that what is being done is not against the constitution.

“We are supposed to be guided by more than the constitution. We are supposed to be guided by the conscience.

“We are the highest decision-making body in this country politically. Please, please. I beg you in the name of God, because the history will be there.

“If there is nobody appropriate — if the argument you are giving me now is that you want to get somebody out of Rivers so that the person that will be in charge of this will be unbiased in any way — that is a different thing. But the people should be carried along.”

Jibrin Barau, deputy senate president, who presided over the plenary, described the opposition against Odey’s confirmation as “politics”.

He cited Benson Ojeikere, an Edo-born technocrat, who is currently serving as head of service in Abia state.

Despite the protests, Odey was confirmed as the chairman of RSIEC.

Odey came under scrutiny at the senate on June 17 over his state of origin when he appeared before the ad hoc committee on Rivers emergency rule.

During the session, members of the committee questioned the legality and appropriateness of appointing someone from Cross River state to head Rivers’ electoral commission.