The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports claiming it refused to accept the resignation of Edison Ehie, former member representing Ahoada-East Constituency II in the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing them as false and misleading.
Ehie had stepped down from the Assembly at the height of the state’s political crisis to assume the role of Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Confusion arose after some reports quoted the Rivers Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, as suggesting Ehie still retained his Assembly seat.
But in a statement signed by Geraldine Ekelemu, Acting Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC clarified that the REC’s comments during an Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) visit were misconstrued as official policy.
INEC stressed that the authority to declare a legislative seat vacant rests solely with the State Assembly, not the Commission.
“Any claim that INEC ‘did not accept’ the resignation of the member representing Ahoada-East State Constituency II is factually incorrect and legally unfounded,” the statement said.
The Commission added that it would only conduct a bye election after receiving formal notice from the Rivers Assembly declaring the seat vacant, in line with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act.
