In Rivers State, Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has concluded its primary elections for the upcoming bye-elections in Ahoda East Constituency 11 and Khana Constituency 2. The party’s candidates for the two seats are Napoleo Ukalikpe and Mrs. Bulabari Henrietta Loolo, respectively. Notably, both aspirants are loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The APC primaries were held on Monday to fill vacant positions in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The bye-elections were necessitated by the need to replace former lawmakers who had vacated their seats. In the case of Khana Constituency 2, the seat became vacant following the death of Hon. Dinebari Loolo in September 2023. His wife, Mrs. Bulabari Henrietta Loolo, will now fly the APC flag in the constituency.
The development is significant, given the political dynamics in Rivers State. Although Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the leader of the APC in the state, the party’s candidates for the two bye-elections are aligned with Nyesom Wike’s camp. This suggests that Wike’s influence within the party remains substantial, despite Fubara’s leadership position.
The Rivers State House of Assembly has been operating with vacant seats, which has prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to schedule bye-elections to fill the gaps. The APC, as one of the major political parties in the state, has now taken a crucial step towards participating in these elections by selecting its candidates.
As the bye-elections approach, the political landscape in Rivers State is likely to witness intense campaigning and mobilization by the various parties involved. The outcome of the elections will not only determine the representation of the constituencies in the state assembly but also reflect the relative strengths of the political parties in the state. With the APC candidates now in place, the stage is set for a competitive electoral process in Ahoda East Constituency 11 and Khana Constituency 2.
