INEC locked in February 21, 2026, for hotly contested by-elections in Rivers State’s Ahoada East II (vacated by resignation) and Khana II (due to a member’s death) greenlighting party primaries Jan 23-27, campaigns kicking off Feb 8 and wrapping Feb 19, after Speaker notices hit the commission’s desk per the 1999 Constitution vacancy rules.
Fresh off Monday’s extraordinary meeting syncing with FCT Area Council polls on the same date, INEC chair Malam Mohammed Haruna rolled out the timetable to fill these seats fast—primed for Rivers’ political fireworks where PDP-APC grudge matches, oil belt tensions and youth voter surges could flip assembly power amid Fubara-Wike shadows still looming large.
This dual poll blitz tests INEC’s post-2023 cred, promising transparent primaries to dodge disputes while stakeholders gear for a Rivers showdown that echoes Naija’s endless election drama, potentially reshaping state house dynamics.
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