Rivers REC Sues for Peace Ahead of State Assembly Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified its call for order and decorum as Rivers State prepares for the high-stakes House of Assembly bye-elections scheduled for February 21, 2026. During a pivotal stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, issued a stern appeal to political leaders and their followers to prioritize peace over partisan friction.

The upcoming polls are designed to fill critical vacancies in Ahoada-East Constituency II and Khana Constituency II. The Ahoada-East seat was declared vacant following the strategic resignation of Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie, who transitioned to the executive arm as Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Conversely, the Khana II vacancy arose under somber circumstances following the passing of the late representative, Dinebari Loolo, in late 2023.

Prof. Yomere emphasized that the integrity of the democratic process rests on the safety of the electorate. With 14 wards and 242 polling units across the two constituencies, over 112,000 registered voters are expected to head to the polls. The REC maintained that for these citizens to exercise their franchise effectively, political actors must commit to a “non-negotiable” standard of non-violence.

Security was a major theme of the engagement, with the Rivers State Police Command affirming its operational readiness. Representing the Commissioner of Police, Chief Superintendent James Njoku assured the public that a robust security framework has been established to safeguard ad hoc staff, electoral materials, and voters. The Command’s pledge aims to mitigate the tensions that have historically characterized legislative elections in the state.

Stakeholders, including the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and various civil society groups, urged INEC to maintain absolute neutrality. The consensus from the meeting focused on the need for a level playing field, with civil society leaders highlighting that any form of intimidation would significantly undermine the legitimacy of the eventual winners.

The bye-election comes at a delicate time for Rivers State’s political stability, as the functioning of the House of Assembly has been a subject of intense national scrutiny. INEC believes that filling these seats is a vital step toward ensuring inclusive governance and restoring the full legislative complement required for state development.

As the commission prepares to launch the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, the focus remains on the February 21 date. The message from the Port Harcourt engagement was clear: the success of the bye-elections depends as much on the conduct of the candidates as it does on the technical readiness of the commission.