By Ayomide Otitoju
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has called on residents to actively participate in the bye-election scheduled for Saturday, February 21, urging eligible voters in Ahoada East and Khana Local Government Areas to support All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates contesting the vacant seats in the State House of Assembly.
In a statement issued Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, Fubara described the election as a “family affair” and encouraged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the process. “Everybody should be law-abiding and avoid doing anything that will disturb the peace during the exercise. It is actually a family election and there is no need for rancour and acrimony,” he said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to conduct elections across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside bye-elections in Rivers State’s Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies, and in Kano State’s Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies.
Similarly, President Bola Tinubu has called for calm and orderly conduct during the elections in the FCT, Kano, and Rivers State. In a statement released Friday by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the President urged voters to exercise their franchise without fear and called on security agencies to exercise restraint while ensuring the integrity of the polls.
“President Tinubu urged all eligible voters to come out and vote without fear, emphasising that the democratic process thrives best in an atmosphere of calm, tolerance, and mutual respect,” the statement read.
He also appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to avoid violence or inflammatory rhetoric, and called on INEC to ensure timely accreditation, smooth voting procedures, accurate collation, and prompt transmission of results in line with the Electoral Act 2026. Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to free, fair, and credible elections, expressing confidence that the outcome would reflect the will of the people and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
