Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set Saturday, February 21, 2026 as the date for bye-elections into two vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies. The decision was taken following an extraordinary meeting of the commission and is aligned with INEC’s constitutional mandate to fill legislative vacancies.
The vacancies arose after the resignation of the Ahoada East II lawmaker and the death of the representative for Khana II, prompting the need for elections to restore full legislative representation. INEC will publish the official notice of elections ahead of the poll, and political parties are expected to conduct primaries and resolve any internal disputes before campaign activities begin.
Under the commission’s approved timetable, the notice of election will be published in January 2026, with party primaries and related processes undertaken before campaigns officially start in early February ahead of the polls. The February 21 by-elections will provide an early test of political dynamics in Rivers State amid evolving party alignments and defections.
