By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured victory in the 21 February 2026 bye-elections for Ahoada East Constituency II and Khana Constituency II seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ukalikpe Napoleon winner of the Ahoada East Constituency II poll with 3,980 votes. In the Khana Constituency II election, Mrs Henrietta Burabari Loolo emerged victorious with 7,647 votes.
Announcing the Ahoada East result at the state collation centre, the Returning Officer, Prof. Rosemary Ogbo, confirmed that the APC candidate met all legal requirements and secured the highest number of valid votes cast.
“I hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 Ahoada East State Constituency II bye-election held on 21 February 2026,” she said. “Ukalikpe Napoleon of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
Similarly, the Returning Officer for the Khana Constituency II bye-election, Prof. Angela Frank-Briggs, declared Mrs Loolo duly elected.
“Henrietta Burabari Loolo of APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” she announced.
INEC Defends Conduct, Notes Voter Apathy
Meanwhile, INEC awarded itself what it described as a “pass mark” for the conduct of the bye-elections, despite acknowledging low voter turnout across several wards.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State, Professor Gabriel Yomere, who undertook an assessment tour of voting centres in Khana Local Government Area, described the exercise as peaceful, free and credible.
“Well, the process went according to plan. There were no issues,” he told journalists. “The peace we are enjoying is a good one.”
Professor Yomere noted that there were no recorded incidents of violence during the exercise. However, he admitted that voter apathy was evident.
“Voter apathy is what I cannot account for,” he said. “But I know for sure the Commission did a lot of sensitisation. We went from local council to local council, engaged traditional rulers and urged them to mobilise their communities. We also engaged politicians, Civil Society Organisations and ran jingles on air even until this morning. That is the best we can do; we cannot go from house to house and compel people to vote.”
The Commission reiterated its commitment to conducting transparent and peaceful elections, while calling on stakeholders to intensify civic education efforts to boost participation in future polls.
Candidates React
Speaking after casting his vote at Ogbelle Town, Unit 1, Ward 9, Ukalikpe Napoleon expressed satisfaction with the process.
“I am very happy with the turnout; there is security everywhere and there have been no disturbances,” he said, adding that visits to other polling units showed the process to be “smooth and orderly”.
He also commended INEC and President Bola Tinubu for ensuring a peaceful atmosphere during the election, noting that he experienced no difficulty during accreditation and voting.
The APC’s twin victories strengthen its representation in the Rivers State House of Assembly and are widely seen as a strategic boost for the party as political actors begin to look ahead to the 2027 general elections..
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