After CROSIEC Chair’s Exit, Otu Awaits Assembly’s Nod To Sack Other Commission Members
Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu is waiting for an approval from the state house of assembly to be able to sack the remaining members of the state independent electoral commission, since their chairman, Prof Mike Ushie has resigned on his own.
Ushie’s resignation came a few hours after Otu wrote to the Assembly for permission to restructure the commission, as the tenure of the commission members was still running. He cited incompetence as reason for wanting to sack them.
While the chairman did not want to be disgraced out of office, the other members have chosen to stay put. An analyst said in a social media post on Wednesday that the people may have decided to stay on for a number of reasons, including “legal Procedure: The removal process may be governed by a legal framework that requires the House of Assembly’s approval, and they may want to follow due process.
“Constitutional Requirements: The Constitution or relevant laws may stipulate specific procedures for removing electoral commission officials, which they must adhere to.
“Independence and Neutrality: As an independent electoral commission, they may want to maintain their neutrality and avoid perceived interference from the executive arm, even if it means waiting for the legislative arm to act.
“Clearance of Doubts: They may seek clarity on the grounds for their removal, ensuring that the process is not arbitrary or politically motivated.
“Protection of Tenure: They may be protecting their tenure and fighting against arbitrary removal, as the grounds cited (ineffectiveness, incompetence, and inefficiency) might be subjective.
“Political Considerations: They might be waiting for political maneuvering or negotiations to unfold, hoping for a more favorable outcome.
“Legal Challenge: They may be preparing a legal challenge to the removal process or grounds, and waiting for the House of Assembly’s decision to solidify their case. It’s essential to note that the specific context and circumstances surrounding this situation would provide more insight into the reasoning behind their actions.”
In deciding to quit however, Ushie told the governor in his resignation letter that he needed to leave to enable him return to his university job and further research work.
“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.
