INEC says it didn’t reject Rivers Assembly member’s resignation

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has debunked reports making the round that it rejected the resignation of a member representing Ahoada East State Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie.

The Commission reacted to claims by the Rivers Resident Electoral Commission, RSIEC, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, who was quoted as saying that Ehie’s resignation to become Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi was rejected and still remain a member of Rivers State House of Assembly.

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Rivers Electoral Commission had issued a statement which was signed by its Acting Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Geraldine Ekelemu, noting that
the REC was very transparent in its statement that the decision as to the organization of any election lied solely with the Commission’s Headquarters.

The statement said: “The decision of INEC on when to conduct a bye-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, and INEC cannot, on its own, declare, recognize, or determine when any legislative seat has become vacant.

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“The REC’s opinion and perception surrounding the issue of resignation, which he freely expressed during the IPAC visit, has been misconstrued as a Policy statement from 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.

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

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