Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has urged residents, particularly registered voters in Ahoada East and Khana Local Government Areas, to turn out in large numbers for the scheduled by-election this Saturday, February 21, 2026. The vote will fill two vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Governor Fubara made the appeal from the Government House in Port Harcourt, characterizing the contest as a “family election” and calling for unified support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates. In an official statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor emphasized peaceful conduct, stating, “Everybody should be law-abiding and avoid doing anything that will disturb the peace during the exercise. It is actually a family election, and there is no need for rancour and acrimony.”
The by-election concerns Ahoada East State Constituency II and Khana State Constituency II, both of which have experienced legislative vacancies. These seats are integral to the state’s 32-member House of Assembly, influencing local legislation and oversight. The governor’s direct appeal underscores the political significance of these constituencies within Rivers State’s governance structure.
By-elections of this nature are triggered by various circumstances, including the death or resignation of a sitting member, necessitating a fresh mandate from constituents. The outcome will determine the assembly’s composition for the affected districts until the next general election. High voter participation is often viewed as a measure of democratic engagement and the legitimacy of the eventual representatives.
The governor’s call for peace aligns with standard pre-election rhetoric aimed at preventing violence and ensuring a credible process. His framing of the poll as a “family affair” seeks to foster a sense of communal responsibility and downplay partisan tensions. Security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are expected to oversee the exercise, with logistics focused on the two specific local government areas.
The successful conclusion of this by-election will restore full representation for the communities of Ahoada East II and Khana II. It also serves as an early electoral test for the state administration ahead of future polls. voters are reminded to bring necessary identification and adhere to prescribed guidelines at polling units. Results will be announced by INEC after collation, determining the new state assembly members for the constituencies.
