December 22, (THEWILL) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled February 21, 2026, for the conduct of bye-elections into the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State.
The Commission disclosed this in a press statement issued on Monday after an extraordinary meeting held in Abuja, where it approved the timetable and schedule of activities for the polls.
Signed on Monday by Mohammed Haruna, the Chairman of INEC’s Information, Voter Education and Publicity Committee, the statement disclosed that the decision was taken pursuant to Section 116 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers the Commission to fix dates and conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies in legislative houses.
According to the Commission, the Ahoada East II seat became vacant following the resignation of the lawmaker representing the constituency, while the Khana II vacancy arose as a result of the death of its member. The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly had formally notified INEC of the vacancies.
Under the approved timetable, the notice of election will be published on January 22, 2026. Political parties are to conduct their primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the exercise, between January 23 and 27, 2026.
Campaigns by political parties and candidates will commence on February 8 and end on February 19, ahead of the elections slated for February 21, 2026.
INEC also noted that the approval of the bye-election timetable followed a review of preparations for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for the same date.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting credible, transparent and peaceful elections, urging political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to strictly comply with the guidelines and timelines for the exercise.
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