‘Legally unfounded’ — INEC denies rejecting Edison Ehie’s resignation in Rivers assembly

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims that it refused to accept the resignation of Edison Ehie, who represented Ahoada-east constituency II in the state’s house of assembly.

Ehie resigned from the legislature in December 2023, in the heat of the Rivers political crisis, to become chief of staff to Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state.

The commission said the clarification follows reports attributed to Gabriel Yomere, the state’s resident electoral commissioner (REC), during a meeting with the inter-party advisory council (IPAC) on September 29.

In a statement on Wednesday, Geraldine Ekelemu, acting head of voter education and publicity, said the reports were misleading and misrepresented the REC’s comments.

“The Hon. REC was very transparent in his statement that the decision as to the organization of any election lies solely with the Commission’s Headquarters,” the statement reads.

Ekelemu explained that INEC does not have the power to declare a legislative seat vacant or to determine the validity of a resignation, noting that the commission only acts upon a formal notification from the appropriate authorities.

“The decision of INEC on when to conduct a by-election is only conditioned on its receipt of a formal notice from the appropriate authorities recognized by the Constitution, stating that any legislative seat has become vacant,” it added.

According to the commission, Yomere’s remarks during the IPAC visit had been “misconstrued as a policy statement from the Commission”.

INEC said the claim that it did not accept the resignation of the lawmaker is “factually incorrect and legally unfounded”.

“INEC does not adjudicate on the validity of a declaration of vacancy,” the statement added.

“Once it has been signed and transmitted by the authorized legislative authority and, in this case, the Rivers State House of Assembly, the Commission will commence the processes required to conduct a by-election in line with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act.”