The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State has ramped up efforts to ensure hitch-free bye-elections into the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
This came as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, convened a strategic meeting of the committee in Port Harcourt.
The session brought together top brass from various security agencies and critical stakeholders to assess INEC’s level of preparedness, deepen inter-agency synergy, and renew a shared pledge to deliver peaceful, credible, and transparent polls.
Prof. Yomere lauded the security agencies for their steadfast support and collaboration in protecting the electoral process, stressing that such partnership remains essential in building and sustaining public trust in Nigeria’s democracy.
The bye-elections were necessitated by the resignation of the former member for Ahoada East II and the death of the representative for Khana II, triggering constitutional provisions for filling the vacancies.
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Amid Rivers State’s historically charged political environment—often marked by election-related tensions—the meeting highlighted proactive measures, including timely personnel deployment, intelligence sharing, and robust security arrangements to prevent any form of disruption or violence.
Participants emphasized professionalism, early logistics planning, and continuous vigilance as key to upholding voters’ rights and the overall integrity of the exercise.
As preparations intensify—with the official notice of elections already slated for January 22, 2026, and campaigns running from February 8–19—the ICCES platform is poised to coordinate joint operations, voter sensitization, and on-ground security deployments across the two constituencies.
Prof. Yomere’s commendation reflects the broader determination among electoral and security actors to conduct seamless polls that further strengthen democratic confidence nationwide.
