INEC SCHEDULES RIVERS BYE-ELECTIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially fixed February 21, 2026, for bye-elections in the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State.
The announcement was made following an extraordinary meeting held on Monday, December 22, 2025.
In a statement released by Malam Mohammed Haruna, Chairman of the Information, Voter Education, and Publicity Committee, the Commission confirmed that the timetable was drafted in accordance with Section 116 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The vacancies in the Rivers State House of Assembly were created by the resignation of the member representing Ahoada East II and the death of the representative for Khana II.
The Speaker of the State House of Assembly has since formally notified the commission of these openings, prompting the exercise of INEC’s powers under Section 116 of the 1999 Constitution to organize the replacement process.
According to the approved schedule, the commission will publish the official notice for both elections on January 22, 2026.
This will be followed immediately by party primaries and the resolution of any internal disputes, which are expected to take place between January 23 and January 27.
Candidates and their respective political parties will then have a twelve-day window for public campaigning, starting on February 8 and concluding on February 19, just forty-eight hours before the polls open.
These bye-elections will be held concurrently with the end-of-tenure Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
The commission noted that its review of preparations for the FCT polls provided an opportunity to synchronise the Rivers State elections, ensuring an organised delivery of the democratic process across the affected constituencies.
