The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC says the process in which the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River, Frankland Briyai, resigned to join partisan politics, is unacceptable.
The commission, in a statement issued in Abuja, quoted INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, as making the clarification.
Okoye made the clarification at the opening of a National Strategy Meeting on Capturing Disaggregated Data of Persons with Disabilities.
He said that alhough Briyai had the right to join a political party and to contest election, the way he made public his intention to join partisan politics was not comply with due process.
Okoye also said that contrary to reports that INEC had removed him, the commission only withdrew the powers conferred on him.
The national commissioner said the truth is that the commission does not have the power to sack or dismiss any REC because it is not the appointing authority.
He said that all INEC RECs were appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by Senate and could only be removed in the same process.
