The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed 21 February 2026 for bye-elections into the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State.
In a statement on Monday, Mohammed Haruna, the chairperson of the Information, Voter Education, and Publicity Committee of INEC, said the date was announced after an extraordinary meeting of the commission, where the timetable and schedule of activities for the polls were approved.
The statement is posted on the commission’s Facebook page.
According to Mr Haruna, the decision was taken pursuant to Section 116 of the Nigeriam Constitution, which empowers INEC to fix dates and conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies in legislative houses.
“By the provisions of Section 116 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers the Commission to fix dates for elections and conduct bye-elections for vacancies arising therefrom, it has fixed 21 February 2026, for the conduct of the elections into the two State constituencies,” the commission said.
“The vacancy in the Ahoada East II Constituency arose as a result of the resignation of its member, while that of Khana II resulted from the death of its member. The Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly had since notified the Commission of the existence of the vacancies.”
Timetable and election activities
INEC said the notice of election for both constituencies will be published on 22 January 2026.
Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the process, between 23 and 27 January. Campaign activities will commence on 8 February and end at midnight on 19 February, ahead of the elections on 21 February.
“The elections will hold on Saturday, 21 February 2026,” the commission said.
Background
The vacancy in Ahoada East II followed the resignation of Edison Ehie, a former factional Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly.
Mr Ehie resigned from the assembly after a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu to end the prolonged political feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis had split the assembly into two rival factions, paralysed governance in the oil-rich state and led to impeachment threats, arson attacks on local government secretariats, and a six-month state of emergency declared by Mr Tinubu.
Following Mr Ehie’s resignation, Governor Fubara appointed him as chief of staff.
Significance of the bye-elections
The forthcoming bye-elections will test the shifting political dynamics in Rivers, particularly after Governor Fubara’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has further reshaped the political landscape in the South-south.
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The outcome of the polls would have no significant influence on the decision of the assembly, which remains a key arena in the lingering struggle for political control in the state.
The 26 lawmakers, despite splitting themselves into two political parties: 16 in APC and 10 in PDP, are loyalists of the FCT minister.
INEC said it would provide further updates as preparations progress toward the February elections.
