The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied claims circulating on social media that it rejected the resignation of Edison Ehie from the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Ehie, who represented Ahoada East Constituency II before resigning to become Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the peak of the state’s political crisis, formally stepped down from his legislative seat.
In recent days, however, posts on Facebook alleged that INEC declined to accept his resignation, citing comments attributed to the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, during a meeting with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
The reports further suggested that the Commission had refused to conduct a bye-election to replace Ehie.
In a statement issued by Geraldine Ekelemu, Acting Head of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC’s Rivers office, the Commission dismissed the claims as misleading.
It explained that only INEC’s national headquarters has the authority to initiate any election and such a process must follow a formal communication from the appropriate legislative authority.
“Once a resignation letter has been signed and transmitted by the authorized legislative body, in this case, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Commission will begin the necessary steps to conduct a bye-election in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act,” the statement read.
INEC stressed that the REC’s remarks during the IPAC meeting had been misconstrued and did not represent an official policy position.
The crisis in the Rivers Assembly has complicated matters.
A faction of the Assembly led by Victor Oko-Jumbo had earlier declared Ehie’s seat vacant following his resignation.
However, the Supreme Court subsequently ruled that the Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly was illegal.
This ruling effectively means Ehie remains a member of the Assembly unless he tenders a fresh resignation letter to the faction recognized by law under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule. Only then can INEC act on a formal notification to conduct a bye-election in Ahoada East Constituency II.
