INEC Strips Cross River REC of Powers, Functions

INEC Strips Cross River REC of Powers, Functions

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stripped the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Cross River State, Dr. Frankland Briyai of all powers features and privileges vested on him via the electoral umpire of the usa for allegedly breaching the Code of Conduct which stipulates neutrality in politics and declaring to contest in the Bayelsa State governorship race.

Reacting to the incident, INEC Director of Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye, stated they had been yet to acquire the purported resignation letter of Briyai, including that he did no longer follow laid down procedures for resignation. 

Okoye who in a declaration described the motion of the REC as an abuse of workplace said, “Following his actions and based totally on the Constitution, the Commission has withdrawn all powers and functions delegated to Briyai as Resident Electoral Commissioner.”

In an obvious reference to the statement of activity to run for the office, the declaration continued, “Although this used to be finished at the Commission’s Cross River State workplace in Calabar, the Commission is yet to acquire any verbal exchange on this from Dr. Briyai.

“The Commission strongly frowns at the REC’s expression of partisan interest. We word that the Constitution precludes National and Resident Electoral Commissioners from belonging to Political Parties.

Also the use of INEC premises and services for such announcement or for any political cause is illegal and opposite to the Code of Conduct subscribed to by way of all INEC officials.

“Dr. Briyai failed to observe laid down process for resignation as REC. Section 306 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) affords that the resignation of such appointment takes impact on receipt of the letter of resignation by way of the appointing authority in this case the President.

“We are no longer conscious that he has tendered his resignation to the appointing authority and the Commission has not acquired any resignation letter as he claimed.

“Consequently, the Administrative Secretary of INEC Cross River State has been directed to oversee the workplace and take over the features and responsibilities of the REC until in addition notice,” INEC said.

Following the role of INEC on the matter, it said it was rejecting any resignation from Briyai although it was no longer but in possession of any such document.

Briyai, who resigned to contest the Bayelsa State governorship elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) brought on a stir as employees of the electoral umpire are supposed to be neutral and no longer belong to any political party.

Briyai Thursday  addressed the media mentioning that he had resigned his role as REC with effect from 8th August 2019 and joined the APC on whose platform he meant to contest the November 16, 2019 Governorship Election in Bayelsa State.