Amid uproar, the Senate Wednesday confirmed a non-indigene, Dr. Michael Odeh, from Cross River state, as chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Senators Abdul Ningi, Mohammed Ali Ndume and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, raised objections before confirmation of Odey as contained in the report presented to that effect by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Implementation of Emergency Rule in Rivers state.
The committee, chaired by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, had screened Odeh and six other nominees and recommended their confirmation. Nominees for the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission and Rivers State Civil Service Commission were also confirmed.
Presenting the report, Bamidele said the screening committee found nothing in the nominees’ records that violated the 1999 constitution, and urged the Senate to confirm them.
However, Ningi rejected the recommendation, questioning the rationale for appointing someone from outside the state.
“Are there no people in Rivers anymore? Why is this necessary?” he asked.
“Mr. President, let it be on record that I, Senator Abdul Ningi, stood against this decision, even if it will not stop the confirmation.”
He was backed by Ndume, who also declared:
“Mr. President, let it be on record that I, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, stood against this decision.”
In defence of the committee’s recommendation, Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North) argued that any Nigerian can serve in any state, in line with constitutional provisions.