TheIndependent National Electoral Commission, INEC says the process in which the Resident ElectoralCommissioner in Cross River, Frankland Briyai, resigned to join partisanpolitics, is unacceptable. Thecommission, in a statement issued in Abuja, quoted INEC National Commissionerand Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, asmaking the clarification. Okoyemade the clarification at the opening of a National Strategy Meeting onCapturing Disaggregated Data of Persons with Disabilities. Hesaid that alhough Briyai had the right to join a political party and to contestelection, the way he made public his intention to join partisan politics wasnot comply with due process. Okoyealso said that contrary to reports that INEC had removed him, the commissiononly withdrew the powers conferred on him. Thenational commissioner said the truth is that the commission does not have thepower 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.