There was a heated confrontation in the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday during deliberations on the report of the ad-hoc committee on the emergency rule in Rivers State, particularly over the screening and confirmation of nominees to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The major bone of contention was the nomination of Michael Odey, a Cross River State native, as Chairman of the RSIEC a move that drew fierce resistance from several lawmakers who questioned the ethics, legality, and political motivations behind appointing a non-indigene to oversee elections in Rivers State.
Despite the protests, the Senate proceeded with a voice vote, overwhelmingly adopting the committee’s report and confirming the appointment of Odey and six others: Lezaasi Torbira, Arthur Nwafor, Godfrey Mbudiogha, Joyce Akaniwor, Olive Bruce, and Chidi Halliday.
The nominations had earlier been transmitted to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu and screened by an 18-member ad-hoc committee chaired by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
But during plenary, loop holes in the Senate widened, especially on the issue of federal character, local ownership, and institutional trust under emergency rule.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended the nominations by emphasizing;
“For the record, emergency rule is not a substitute for democratic governance in any political climate. Rather, it is an extraordinary constitutional measure intended to restore order in times of disorder, promote peace in periods of conflict, and ensure stability where there is instability.”
“The invocation of emergency rule in Rivers State is not an arbitrary action, as some have alleged, but one rooted firmly in the provision of section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), along with other relevant legal instruments”.
Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) raised the first objection.
He distanced himself from the appointment of the chairman arguing;
“My observation is in regards to clause 311 and I have personally approached the Senate Leader as to the propriety of or otherwise of bringing in someone from another state to chair a local election body.”
“Let it be on record that myself Senator Abdul Ningi objects and observes that if this same thing becomes the normal, it is not going to do well going forward.
“Because I have been to Rivers State almost 40 years ago and I know the quality of people in Rivers State and I do not see any logical reason why a Rivers Man cannot chair this Electoral Commission.”
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) backed Ningi, adding:
“I want to add my voice to this very important observation made by Senator Abdul Ningi. Let it be on record that I, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, am not against the appointment or whoever you recommend. But under the current circumstances… if today you decide to interview 100 to 1000 qualified people from Rivers State for this position, you will get it.”
“We are supposed to be guided by more than the Constitution, we are supposed to be guided by our conscience. We are the highest decision-making body in this country politically.”
“Please and please! I beg you in the name of God because history will be there… The people should be carried along , he pleaded with the Senate Presided by the Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), Minority Leader, raised concerns on ethics and political balance;
“We are looking at Rivers State under an emergency rule, under an administrator that ordinarily is not supposed to be a member of the APC.”
“If six people from Rivers State can be members of the electoral committee, what stops the 7th person from coming from Rivers?”
“You know that eyebrows were raised. The Military Administrator was appointed because he is from Cross River. Now he has gone again to pick another Cross River person to become Chairman of the electoral commission.”
“I am talking about ethics. But let it be known that we have concerns… If you want, I support you (the majority party Senators APC) to do bad things. Let us not infuse politics into everything. Allow us to express ourselves.”
