The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State, Professor Gabriel Yomere, has announced that the upcoming bye-elections in Khana Constituency 2 and Ahoada East Constituency 2 will take place without candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, and African Democratic Congress.
Speaking to journalists, Yomere confirmed that the polls are set for February 21, noting that the exclusion of the three major parties was due to internal and procedural challenges within those parties.
The two seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly have been vacant for more than two years. The Khana Constituency 2 seat became vacant after the death of Dinebari Loolo in September 2023, while the Ahoada East Constituency 2 seat was vacated in December 2023 when Edison Ehie stepped down to assume the role of Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor.
In the absence of the major parties, 12 candidates representing seven smaller political parties will compete in the elections, giving voters in the affected constituencies the chance to elect new representatives.
Yomere assured residents that the Independent National Electoral Commission has finalized all logistical arrangements to ensure the elections are conducted smoothly and credibly.
He also stated that all Supervisory Presiding Officers assigned to the exercise are permanent staff of the commission rather than members of the National Youth Service Corps, underscoring INEC’s commitment to professionalism and transparency.
