The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed claims that it rejected the resignation of Edison Ehie as a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Ehie, who became Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara during the height of the political crisis in the state, resigned from the Assembly to assume his new role.
He had previously represented Ahoada East Constituency II.
In recent days, social media posts, particularly on Facebook, alleged that INEC had said it rejected Ehie’s resignation, citing remarks attributed to the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, during an engagement with the Inter-Party Advisory Committee, IPAC.
The reports also claimed that INEC declined to initiate a bye-election to replace Ehie.
Reacting in a statement signed by Geraldine Ekelemu, Acting Head of Voter Education and Publicity at the Rivers State INEC office, the Commission clarified that the power to organize any election lies solely with its national headquarters.
INEC added that the conduct of a bye-election can only follow receipt of a formal notice from the appropriate constitutional authority.
The Commission stressed that it cannot, on its own, declare a legislative seat vacant.
It explained that the REC’s comments during the IPAC meeting were misconstrued as an official policy statement.
“Once it has been signed and transmitted by the authorized legislative authority and in this case, Rivers State House of Assembly, the Commission will commence the processes required to conduct a bye-election in line with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act,”the statement added.
The then Victor Oko-Jumbo faction of the State Assembly had earlier declared Ehie’s seat vacant following his resignation.
However, the Supreme Court later ruled that the Oko-Jumbo-led Assembly was illegal.
This development implies that Ehie remains a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
For his resignation to be valid, he would have to submit a fresh letter to the Assembly under the leadership of Martin Amaewhule, which would then be transmitted to INEC for the conduct of a bye-election in Ahoada East Constituency II.
INEC denies rejecting Ehie’s resignation from Rivers Assembly