INEC Denies Rejecting Edison Ehie’s Resignation from Rivers Assembly

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports 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, stepped down from the Assembly to assume the position of Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara during the height of the state’s political crisis.

Speculation emerged after claims that the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, had told members of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) that INEC refused to accept Ehie’s resignation and would not conduct a bye-election to replace him.

However, in a statement signed by Geraldine Ekelemu, Acting Head of Voter Education and Publicity at the INEC Rivers office, the commission clarified that decisions on elections and bye-elections are made only by its national headquarters. It stressed that INEC cannot on its own declare a legislative seat vacant and would only act upon formal communication from the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The statement explained that Prof. Yomere’s comments at the IPAC meeting were misinterpreted. “Once a resignation has been signed and transmitted by the authorized legislative authority, the Commission will commence the processes required to conduct a bye-election in line with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act,” it noted.

The matter is further complicated by an earlier declaration by the Victor Oko-Jumbo-led faction of the Assembly, which had declared Ehie’s seat vacant. That faction was later ruled illegal by the Supreme Court, raising doubts about the validity of its actions.

INEC’s clarification suggests that Ehie technically remains a member of the Rivers Assembly until a formal resignation is submitted to and recognized by the faction led by Martin Amaewhule. Only then can INEC initiate the process for a bye-election in Ahoada East Constituency II.

The development has reignited debates around the political crisis in Rivers State, with observers awaiting clarity on Ehie’s legislative status and the possibility of a bye-election.