The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it will not conduct a bye-election in Ahoada East Constituency 2 of Rivers State, insisting that it did not accept the resignation of former lawmaker, Ehie Edison.
Edison, who was the factional Speaker of the five-man House of Assembly members loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, resigned from the Assembly in December 2023 after being appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor. His resignation came months before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu suspended both the state executive and legislature on 18 March 2025.
Speaking on a radio programme in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Yomere, explained that both INEC and the State House of Assembly declined to recognise Edison’s resignation.
According to Yomere, “INEC did not accept the resignation of Edison Ehie. The State House of Assembly also did not accept his resignation. Therefore, there will be no bye-election in Ahoada East Constituency 2.”
He, however, confirmed that a bye-election would be conducted in Khana Constituency 2 before the end of the year to replace the late lawmaker, Hon. Dinebari Loolo, who died in September 2023.
Yomere assured that the Commission would maintain neutrality in all electoral processes. “There will be no preferential treatment to any political parties,” he stated.
