The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Nwoku Olaka Johnson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election held on Saturday, in what turned out to be a highly decisive electoral outcome.
Announcing the result at the INEC collation centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, the Returning Officer, Professor Rosemary Ogu of the University of Port Harcourt, said the PDP candidate polled 47,961 votes out of 51,150 valid votes cast across the seven local government areas in the senatorial district. She confirmed that Johnson met all constitutional requirements and was duly returned elected.
The result showed a wide margin between the PDP and other political parties. The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Osarosaka Ebenezer Erewari, came a distant second with 1,647 votes, while the Action Alliance (AA) candidate, Douglas Fabeke Beeka, secured 1,175 votes. The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Sam Kinanee Barikpoa, trailed with 367 votes.
Professor Ogu, who also serves as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Port Harcourt, formally declared the PDP candidate the winner, stating that the election had been conducted in line with electoral laws and procedures.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant Senate seat for Rivers South-East following the death of Senator Barry Barinada Mpigi in February 2026. The contest attracted attention within the state’s political circles, especially given the influence of local political alliances.
Reports also indicated that all four major candidates in the election are linked to a broader political coalition in Rivers State associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reflecting the shifting alliances within the state’s political landscape.
Speaking earlier after casting his vote in Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area, Johnson expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and praised voter turnout, describing it as a sign of growing public engagement and confidence in the democratic process.
However, he also raised concerns about the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), urging INEC to strengthen its technological systems to avoid disruptions that could potentially disenfranchise voters. He emphasized that while technology remains important for credible elections, it must be reliable enough to ensure every eligible voter is able to participate without hindrance.
The election outcome is expected to further strengthen the PDP’s position in Rivers State politics, even as analysts continue to monitor evolving alliances and electoral dynamics ahead of future national contests.
