INEC approves timetable, fixes date for state constituency bye-elections in Rivers

*The Independent National Electoral Commission approves the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of bye-elections into the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State, South-South region in Nigeria

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of bye-elections into the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State, South-South region in Nigeria.

Malam Mohammed Haruna, Chairman of the Commission’s Information, Voter Education, and Publicity Committee (IVEC), noted this development in a statement signed and issued Monday, December 22, 2025.

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Haruna stated that the INEC the decision followed an extraordinary meeting of the Commission held the same day, during which INEC also reviewed its preparations for the end-of-tenure Area Council election for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), scheduled for February 21, 2026.

The Chairman of the Commission’s IVEC also indicated that in line with 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 to fill vacancies, INEC fixed Saturday, February 21, 2026, for the conduct of the polls in the two State constituencies.

The IVEC Chairman explained that the vacancy in the Ahoada East II State Constituency arose from the resignation of its member, while the vacancy in the Khana II State Constituency resulted from the death of the incumbent lawmaker.

It added that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly had duly notified the Commission of the existence of the vacancies.

According to the approved timetable, the notice of election will be published January 22, 2026.

Political parties are to conduct their primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the exercise, between January 23 and January 27, 2026.

Campaign activities by political parties and candidates will commence February 8 and end at midnight February 19, 2026, ahead of the bye-elections slated for February 21, 2026.