Per the e-Rewards terms & conditions for IHG redemption:
IHG Rewards Club Points earned through e-Rewards count towards Elite Tier status.
And I can confirm they have posted as such since the creation of Elite Tier points. (Though I haven't had a redemption post since July 1, so can't confirm 100% they still are.) They've been somehow grouped as 'Partner Points' that are qualifying instead of assorted other ways to get non-qualifying points outside of stays.
The other known e-Rewards redemption that gets you elite qualifying points is Club Accor, for what it's worth.