Ehie’s Resignation: Rivers INEC Office Says REC’s Opinion Not Policy Statement, Only Hqrs Can Decide

THE Rivers State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that the opinion of its Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Gabriel Yomere, regarding the resignation of Edison Ehie as member representing Ahoada East State Constituency II is not a policy statement, saying decision as to the organisation of any election lied solely with the Commission’s headquarters.
Yomere was recently quoted as declaring that INEC would not conduct a by-election in Ahoada East State Constituency II, saying the seat is presently occupied by Ehie.
Recall that Ehie, a former deputy speaker and factional speaker of the House of Assembly during the political crisis in the state, had resigned his position as the speaker and member of the Assembly in December 2023 and was later appointed chief of staff by Governor Siminalayi Fubara before the suspension of the state executive and legislature arms of government, via the declaration of emergency rule by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, this year.
But Yomere was reported to have said that the Commission did not accept the Ehie’s resignation while speaking on a radio talk show, adding that INEC would only conduct by-election in Khana State Constituency 2 before the end of this year to replace the late Dinebary Loloo, who died in September 2023.
He assured that the Commission would treat every political party equally and there will be no preferential treatment to any political parties.
However, the state office of INEC later described the report suggesting that the Commission refused to accept Ehie’s resignation as incorrect.
A statement signed for Yomere by the Commission’s acting Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity, Geraldine Ekelemu, said the REC was very transparent in his statement that the decision as to the organisation of any election lied solely with the Commission’s headquarters.
According to the statement: “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 recognised by the Constitution, stating that any legislative seat has become vacant, and INEC cannot, on its own, declare, recognise or determine when any legislative seat has become vacant.
“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 authorised legislative authority, and in this case, 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.”