Assoc. Prof. Mike Ushie has resigned as the Chairman of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) after six years.
Ushie disclosed this on Wednesday, 17th July 2024, via a letter (Our Ref: CROSIEC/2023/LGE/VOL.I) addressed to the State Governor (Senator Bassey Otu) through the Secretary to the State Government (Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh).
According to the letter of resignation, Ushie said his decision was to return to the University to further his 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, 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.
“Accept the assurances of my highest esteem,” the letter read.
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Converseer reports that Governor Otu through a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Owan-Enoh, requested the Cross River State House of Assembly to grant him approval to remove the CROSIEC Chairman.
The letter which highlighted the Commission’s ineffectiveness, prayed the Legislature to “Act in 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.”
It further said the State Government, “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 been held in 2023.”
The Speaker of the House Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, referred the matter to the House Committee on Judiciary Public Service Matters, Public Petition and Conflict Resolution for in-depth study and recommendation.