ADC, PDP, LP Excluded as INEC Confirms Readiness for Rivers Bye-Elections
Electoral Commission Assures Free, Fair and Credible Polls in Khana II, Ahoada East II Constituencies
By Rimawaglobalnews Correspondent
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP) will not feature in the forthcoming bye-elections scheduled for February 21, 2026, in two constituencies of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The affected constituencies are Khana State Constituency II and Ahoada East State Constituency II, where a total of twelve candidates from seven political parties have been cleared to contest the vacant seats.
Addressing journalists during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Gabriel Yomere, disclosed that five candidates would contest in Khana Constituency II, while seven candidates would battle for the Ahoada East Constituency II seat.
He explained that the PDP was excluded from the exercise due to its failure to conduct a valid primary election to produce a candidate.
The ADC, he noted, was disqualified for failing to upload its candidate’s nomination details within the stipulated deadline on the INEC portal.
Similarly, the Labour Party remains ineligible to participate owing to ongoing litigation surrounding its candidacy process.
Mr. Yomere listed the political parties cleared for the election to include the All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Movement (APM), Action Alliance (AA), Boot Party (BP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
He assured stakeholders that the Commission had concluded major preparations for the polls, including the configuration of all Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and the ongoing training and screening of election personnel.
According to him, Supervisory Presiding Officers have been selected from among core INEC staff to ensure professionalism, while Assistant Presiding Officers and other ad-hoc officials are being drawn from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The electoral body further confirmed that non-sensitive materials had already been distributed to the respective local government areas, while sensitive materials would be deployed to Registration Area Centres under tight security on the morning of the election.
INEC also revealed that security agencies have identified potential flashpoints and will ensure adequate deployment of personnel to guarantee peace, prevent disruptions, and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible, and peaceful bye-election, urging voters and political stakeholders to cooperate fully and uphold democratic principles.
