Edith CHUKU
Ahead of February 21, 2026 bye-elections in Ahoada-East 11 and Khana 11 constituencies, the Rivers State Police command has declared zero tolerance for violence, assuring residence of tightened security to ensure their safety during the poll.
This assurance was made at a state-level stakeholders interactive forum in Port Harcourt on Thursday, where security agencies, political parties, civil society groups met with the Independent Electoral Commission INEC, to review preparations for the polls.
The state Police, represented by James Njoku, warned that anyone involved in ballot snatching, electoral malpractices, intimidation, would be arrested.
Njoku assured that the bye-elections would hold in an atmosphere of peace, urging electorates to maintain peaceful disposition.
At the meeting, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Gabriel Yomere, revelation efforts by INEC to encourage grassroots participation through the second phase of Continuous Voter Registration CVR.
Yomere explained that in an effort to bring voter registration closer to communities, the commission would rotate registration across all wards and registration areas in the state’s 23 LGAs.
Insisting that peaceful conduct was crucial for the bye-elections, he charged political parties to focus on issue-based campaigns and internal democracy.
