INEC Holds Rivers By-Election in Khana, Ahoada; APC Only Major Party

Voters in Khana State Constituency II and Ahoada East State Constituency II of Rivers State will cast ballots on Saturday in by-elections to fill vacant seats in the State House of Assembly. The polls, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), aim to restore full legislative representation for the two constituencies following previous vacancies.

The contests have unfolded with a limited party landscape. The All Progressives Congress (APC) is the sole major political party fielding candidates, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and African Democratic Congress (ADC) are absent from the ballot papers. This singular participation by a major party marks a distinctive feature of these by-elections.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has urged eligible voters in the affected local government areas to participate en masse. In his appeal, the governor emphasized the need for a peaceful process, calling on citizens to eschew rancour and ensure the election is conducted in a calm and orderly atmosphere.

In a separate development aimed at ensuring security, the Rivers State Police Command has announced a temporary restriction of movement in Ahoada East and Khana Local Government Areas. According to a statement by Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, the curfew will be in effect from 12:00 a.m. on Saturday until 6:00 p.m. the same day. The police order is intended to facilitate a peaceful, free, fair, and credible electoral process. The command also confirmed a heavy deployment of security personnel across the two local government areas to maintain order.

The by-elections are a critical step for democratic representation in Rivers State, addressing the absence of assembly members for specific constituencies. Results will determine who serves the remaining term in the State House of Assembly, with successful candidates expected to be sworn in following INEC’s certification of the polls. The conduct of these elections, under a restricted movement order and with a single major party contest, will be closely observed for adherence to electoral guidelines and the maintenance of public order.