The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nwoku Olaka Johnson, winner of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election held on Saturday.
The Returning Officer for the election, Professor Rosemary Ogu of the University of Port Harcourt, announced the result at the INEC collation centre in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, declaring that the PDP candidate secured a decisive victory across the seven local government areas that make up the senatorial district.
According to the official results, Johnson polled 47,961 votes out of the 51,150 valid votes cast to emerge winner of the contest.
His closest challenger, Osarosaka Ebenezer Erewari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), garnered 1,647 votes, while Douglas Fabeke Beeka of the Action Alliance (AA) received 1,175 votes. The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Sam Kinanee Barikpoa, polled 367 votes.
Formally announcing the outcome of the election, Professor Ogu declared: “That Nwoku Olaka Johnson of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Barry Barinada Mpigi in February 2026.
Political observers noted that the four candidates who contested the election are members of the political coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Rivers State.
Earlier, after casting his vote in Alesa, Eleme Local Government Area, Johnson commended the turnout of voters, describing it as a reflection of the people’s confidence in the electoral process.
He, however, called on INEC to exercise greater caution in deploying technology during elections following reports of challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
“We hear that the BVAS machines are having some challenges. I urge INEC to avoid anything that will lead to disenfranchisement,” he said.
“INEC should be more cautious in relying on technology. It is important for our people to vote during the election,” the PDP candidate added.
The victory returns the Rivers South-East Senatorial District seat to the PDP, reinforcing the party’s dominance in the oil-rich district following a keenly watched by-election.
