APC Flips Ahoada East II; Napoleon Ukalikpe Declared Winner of Rivers By-Election

AHOADA — In a significant shift within the Rivers State political landscape, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Napoleon Ukalikpe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected representative for Ahoada East Constituency II. The announcement followed a high-stakes by-election conducted on Saturday, February 21, 2026, to fill the vacancy in the State House of Assembly. According to the Returning Officer, Rosemary Ogu, Ukalikpe secured his mandate by polling 3,980 votes. Consequently, the APC has successfully claimed a vital legislative seat in a region traditionally viewed as a stronghold for the opposition. While it is true that several candidates contested, the race ultimately centered on the APC’s superior grassroots mobilization during a period of intense partisan realignment.

The electoral process benefited from an unprecedented digital transparency through the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. As of Sunday morning, officials had successfully uploaded results from 86 out of the 87 polling units involved in the exercise. This represents a remarkable 98.85% real-time data transmission rate, a feat that local observers say significantly reduced the window for manual manipulation. Furthermore, the high upload speed aligns with the technological mandates of the 2026 Electoral Act, which prioritizes immediate digital verification. Indeed, the Returning Officer noted that the seamlessness of the BVAS accreditation allowed for a prompt final collation at the INEC headquarters in Ahoada town.

The by-election was characterized by a notably low voter turnout, a recurring challenge in off-cycle Nigerian polls. In a related development, Channels Television reported logistical hurdles in certain wards, where INEC officials lacked basic furniture like tables and chairs for several hours. Granted, these administrative “hiccups” did not halt the voting process, but they fueled criticism regarding the commission’s field readiness. Significantly, however, the heavy deployment of security personnel ensured that the exercise remained largely free of the violence that has historically plagued Rivers State elections. Notably, President Bola Tinubu had earlier issued a directive for all security agencies to maintain absolute neutrality during the exercise to bolster public confidence.

Significantly, the APC victory in Ahoada East II comes amidst a broader structural crisis within the Rivers State political apparatus. Above all, the result serves as a litmus test for the popularity of the “New APC” in the South-South region ahead of the 2027 general elections. Subsequently, the defeated candidates now have a statutory period to file petitions before the Election Tribunal if they dispute the declared tallies. Although the margin of victory appears decisive, the low cumulative vote count suggests a deepening apathy among the local electorate.

The focus of the commission now shifts to the Khana II by-election results and the final certification of all winners. Therefore, the APC must now transition from a successful campaign to effective legislative representation for the people of Ahoada East II. As a result of this victory, the party’s influence in the state’s legislative decisions is expected to grow significantly.