The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Rivers State Office, has described as incorrect the viral report suggesting that the Commission refused to accept the resignation of Edison Ehie as a member representing Ahoada East State Constituency in the state House of Assembly.

The Commission’s reaction came after reports quoted the Rivers Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere as saying that Ehie, who resigned during the political crisis, to become the Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, still remained a member of the House.

A statement signed for the REC 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 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.

“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”. (The Nation)