The political camp of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has been thrown into confusion following the emergence of loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming Rivers State House of Assembly bye-elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the bye-elections for February 21, 2026, to fill two vacant seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly. The affected constituencies are Ahoada-East Local Government Area Constituency II and Khana Local Government Area Constituency II.
The vacancies arose following the death of the lawmaker representing Khana Constituency II, Hon. Dunebari Loolo, and the resignation of the member representing Ahoada-East Constituency II, Edison Ehie, who stepped down amid the lingering political crisis in the state.
Ahead of the elections, the APC conducted congresses to elect delegates who would participate in the party’s primaries. The congresses, held at the two constituencies, were supervised by committees constituted by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC). Five delegates reportedly emerged from each constituency.
The primaries were conducted on Monday under the monitoring of INEC officials and security agencies. At the end of the exercise, Hon. Napoleon Ukalikpe, a known loyalist of the FCT minister, clinched the APC ticket for Ahoada-East Constituency II, while Mrs. Bulabari Loolo emerged as the party’s candidate for Khana Constituency II.
