The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday June 2 2026 convened a stakeholders’ engagement in Bori, Ogoni, as part of preparations for the forthcoming Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election.
The election which is scheduled for Saturday June 20, 2026 will fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Barry Mpigi.
The INEC Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Johnson Sinikiem disclosed that a total of 858,573 registered voters across seven local government areas which includes Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Eleme, Tai, Oyigbo, Khana, and Gokana are expected to participate in the poll.
According to Dr. Sinikiem the exercise will be conducted across 88 Registration Areas (wards) and 1,629 polling units, with 6,774 ad hoc personnel to be deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the election.
According to the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner four political parties have so far shown interest in contesting the bye-election.
He said the political parties include the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, and Action Alliance.
Stakeholders at the meeting were urged to demonstrate political maturity and civic responsibility as the state prepares for the poll.
INEC stressed that peaceful elections are not accidental but result from deliberate restraint by political actors, professionalism by electoral officials and security agencies, responsible behaviour by party supporters, and active citizen participation.
The Commission called on all parties and residents of the senatorial district to work towards ensuring the bye-election is peaceful, free, fair, and credible.
