APC wins bye-elections, strengthens majority status in Rivers Assembly

Candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have won the bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies.

At the end of collation on Saturday February 21, 2026, which took place at centres in Ahoada and Taaba, Napoleon Ukalikpe (APC) led six others to win the Ahoada II seat in the Rivers State House of Assembly, while Bulabari Henrietta Loolo won to occupy the Khana II seat left vacant by her late husband, Dinebari Loolo.

The results showed that Ukalikpe (APC) got 3,980 votes to win the contest in Ahoada II, while Loolo (APC) secured 7,647 votes in Khana II.

Seven political parties, the Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Peoples Movement (APM), Boot Party (BP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) presented 12 candidates for the two Assembly seats.

Egor Marvelous (AA), Ukalikpe Napoleon Nyemodumakpo (APC), Godstime Egor (APM), Oseja Amezhi Clifford (BP), Ephraim Raphael Ede (NNPP), Ogide Samson Greatman (YPP) and Okwodu Saturday Prosper (ZLP) contested for the Ahoada East II seat.

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While Nwakpang Meesua Victor (AA), Loolo Bulabari Henrietta (APC), Yormii Justice Barasima (NNPP), Celestine Taagaloobari Gideon (YPP) and Anthony Meneyii Ndor (ZLP) were on the ballot for Khana II.

A breakdown of the results for Ahoada II on Saturday showed that the AA got 33 votes; APC – 3,980; APN – 38; BP – 11; NNPP – 7; YPP – 7 and ZLP – 6 votes.

While Khana II results showed AA got 46 votes; APC – 7,647; NNPP – 37; YPP – 23 and ZLP – 47 votes.

Gabriel Yomere, professor and INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State, on Saturday described the by-elections as peaceful, adding that the exercise had progressed without incidents of violence.

He spoke during an assessment tour of voting activities in some wards in Khana Local Government Area earlier in the day.

Yomere said, “So far, the process is going on according to plan. There are no issues. Like one of my colleagues said, the boys (suspected thugs) have gone on sabbatical and they will remain on sabbatical until we finish. So that the peace we are enjoying will continue until the election is over.”

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