The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has excluded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Labour Party (LP) from participating in the forthcoming Rivers State House of Assembly bye-election scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The Commission released the final list of candidates for the bye-election covering Ahoada East Constituency 2 and Khana Constituency 2, confirming that 12 candidates from seven political parties met the requirements to contest. The PDP, ADC and LP were omitted from the list after failing to satisfy key nomination conditions stipulated in the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
INEC explained that the ADC did not upload the results of its primary elections within the required timeframe on the commission’s nomination portal, while the PDP did not conduct valid primaries for the constituencies. The Labour Party was also excluded on the grounds that it notified the commission of pending internal litigation affecting its nomination process.
The commission maintained that only parties that complied fully with statutory procedures were cleared to participate, stressing that the electoral timetable and candidate nomination deadlines were binding on all political parties without exception.
The Rivers bye-election is being conducted to fill vacant seats in the state House of Assembly following earlier political realignments and vacancies declared by the electoral body. INEC said preparations for the poll have been concluded, with sensitive materials deployed and ad-hoc personnel trained ahead of voting.
Political observers note that the absence of three major opposition parties narrows the contest to a smaller field of parties, potentially reshaping the balance of representation in the affected constituencies. INEC, however, insists the exclusions were purely procedural and in line with electoral regulations.
