The Senate has commenced the screening of 17 nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu for confirmation as heads of key institutions in Rivers State, including the Independent Electoral Commission, the Civil Service Commission, and the Local Government Service Commission.
The exercise, conducted by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers State, is being led by Senate Leader and Committee Chairman, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
He confirmed that all nominees had fulfilled constitutional requirements, including asset declarations with the Code of Conduct Bureau, and had been cleared by the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio had on Thursday, June 12, read the President’s communication listing the nominees as follows:
Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission:
– Chairman: Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey
– Members: Mr. Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof. Arthur Nwafor, Prof. Godfrey Woke Mbudiogha, Prof. (Dame) Joyce Akaniwor, Dr. (Mrs.) Olive A. Bruce, and Prof. Chidi Halliday.
Rivers State Civil Service Commission:
– Chairman: Dr. Barikor Baribuma
– Members: Lot Egopija, Ms. Maeve Ere-Bestman, Mrs. Joy Obiaju, and Mrs. Charity Lloyd Harry.
Rivers State Local Government Service Commission:
– Chairman: Israel N. Amadi
– Members: Linus Nwandem, Lady Christabel George-Didia, Dr. Tonye Willie Pepple, Richard Ewoh, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ofik (rtd), and Sammy Apiafi.
The nominees were presented before the committee by the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, and were grouped into three categories. Nominees for the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board are expected to be screened on Wednesday.
During Tuesday’s session, the Senate raised concerns over the appointment of Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey—a Cross River State indigene—as Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission. Senator Bamidele stated that the committee would examine the legality and implications of appointing a non-indigene to head a state electoral body.
“We intend to conduct a holistic review of this development to determine whether it sets a precedent that can be sustained,” Bamidele said.
He clarified that none of the nominees had pending petitions or security clearance issues, stating:
“All nominees before us have undergone full security screening. We also ensured that they met constitutional requirements, including asset declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau. As a committee, we received no petitions against any of them.”
Bamidele added that the committee’s recommendations would be submitted to the full Senate for deliberation and possible confirmation once the screening is concluded.