The African Democratic Congress, ADC, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Labour Party, LP, will not participate in the upcoming bye-elections for two Rivers State House of Assembly constituencies.
This was confirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The bye-elections are scheduled for February 21 in Khana State Constituency II and Ahoada East State Constituency II.
Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Gabriel Yomere, announced in Port Harcourt on Thursday, February 12, that five candidates will contest in Khana Constituency II, while seven candidates are vying for the Ahoada East seat. Participating parties include AA, APC, APM, BP, NNPP, YPP, and ZLP.
INEC explained that the PDP did not conduct a primary election, leaving the party without a candidate.
The ADC was excluded after failing to upload its candidate’s details to the INEC nomination portal before the deadline, while the Labour Party is embroiled in litigation over its candidacy process, rendering it ineligible for the polls.
Yomere confirmed that all Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines have been configured and are ready for deployment.
Training and screening of election personnel are ongoing.
To ensure transparency, all Supervisory Presiding Officers, SPOs, for the elections will be drawn from core INEC staff, while other ad hoc positions, including Assistant Presiding Officers, will be filled by National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members.
Non-sensitive election materials have already been distributed to the respective local government areas, while sensitive materials are set to be delivered to Registration Area Centres on election day under strict security escort.
INEC has also identified potential flashpoints and briefed security agencies to guarantee adequate deployment, prevent violence, and maintain order throughout the exercise.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, and credible elections in both constituencies.
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