CALABAR —Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State has taken steps toward conducting local government elections in the State by appointing members of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC).
According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Nsa Hill, the 8 man committee has Mr Ekong Edet Bocco as Chairman while Dr. Lawrence Edu Esq is Secretary of the committee. Other members include; Mrs Rose Banku Atep, Mr Adoga Joseph, Ipuole Eutendala Eno, Barr. Daniel Edet Dr.eyo Otu Eyo and Jlerry Adie Akabisong.
The committee whose appointment will need approval from the. Cross River State House of Assembly will be saddled with the responsibility of conducting the local government elections.
This development comes in the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling that underscores the necessity of democratically elected local government administrators for states to receive federal funding.
Recall that few weeks ago, the Supreme Court sitting in Abuja had ruled in favor of the Federal Government, asserting that state governors no longer have the authority to manage local government funds. The judgment further stipulated that states without democratically elected local government officials would be denied federal allocations.
It is believed that this ruling has intensified the urgency for Cross River State to hold local government elections, aligning with the federal mandate for local governance autonomy.
As sources close to the All Progressives Congress party leadership and the governor had previously informed our reporter that governor had prepared a list of caretaker committee members for the 18 local government areas (LGAs) in the state. However, the recent judicial pronouncement appears to have shifted the administration's focus towards organizing elections.
The appointment of CROSIEC members is a crucial step in the electoral process, as the commission is responsible for overseeing the conduct of local government elections in the state. This move signals the government's commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring that local government administration is carried out by duly elected officials.
As the state gears up for the upcoming elections, the focus will be on ensuring a transparent and credible electoral process. The Cross River State government is expected to provide necessary support to CROSIEC to facilitate the smooth conduct of the polls.
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