Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River, has urged the state House of Assembly to approve the constitution of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC).
The Speaker of the assembly, Mr Elvert Ayambem read the governor’s letter during the sitting of house on Wednesday in Calabar.
The letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, also called for the dissolution of the current CROSIEC, constituted by the immediate past administration.
Otu urged the assembly to dissolve the election body for gross ineffectiveness and inability to deliver on its mandate
He said that call was in accordance with section 201(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution.
“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 the state not to conduct local government council elections since 2023.
“The assembly is urged to give Gov. Otu, the latitude to reconstitute the commission to enable the state to conduct local government councils elections as soon as possible,” the letter read in parts.
In a related development, the Cross River Assembly has also received the governor’s request to confirm nominees for appointment into boards and commissions.
They are, the Local Government Service Commission, Board of Internal Revenue Service and the State Privatization Council.
In his ruling, the speaker referred the two matters to the house committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petition, and Conflict Resolution for in-depth study and recommendation.(NAN)
By Ehigimetor Igbaugba
