… Otu Cites CROSIEC’s apathy as reason for not conducting LG polls

By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

The Chairman of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission ( CROSIEC) Dr Mike Ushie has resigned from his appointment.

In a letter dated 17th of July, personally signed by him, Dr Ushie said his resignation was to enable him to return to the University for further research having served for over six years in that capacity.

However, Vanguard gathered that his resignation was coming on the heels of the governor’s prayer to the state Assembly to restructure the commission and also remove him as Chairman.

The resignation letter partly read: “I write to resign my appointment as Chairman of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC).

“This decision is to enable me to return to the University for further research work having served for over six years in that capacity.

“May I use this opportunity to thank the Governor and people of Cross River State for the privilege to serve especially in delivering a peaceful Local Government Council election in 2020, the first post Covid-19 election in Nigeria with Hundred Percent compliance with International Safety Protocols.

“I wish His Excellency well in the implementation of the people’s first agenda of his Administration.

Recall that Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu had earlier on Wednesday asked the State Legislature’s permission to restructure the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC).

The request contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, highlighted the Commission’s ineffectiveness and prayed the Legislature to ” act, pursuant to section 201(1) – (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, and pass an address to remove the Chairman as well as all the Members of the commission owing to serial ineffectiveness.”

According to the letter the State Government has, “observed with dismay a cavalier work attitude by the Chairman and members of the State Electoral Commission.

“This inertia has led to the State not being able to conduct Local Government Council elections which ought to have held in 2023”.

The letter subsequently sought the Assembly’s approval to give Governor Otu, “the latitude to reorganize the Commission to enable the State to have elections to its Local Government Council as soon as possible”.

After considering the request, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem referred the matter to the House Committee on Judiciary Public Service Matters, Public Petition and Conflict Resolution for indept study and recomendation.