Wike loyalists secure APC tickets for Rivers Assembly Bye-Elections

Loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have secured the All Progressives Congress (APC) tickets to contest the Rivers State House of Assembly bye-elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to conduct the bye-elections to fill two vacant seats in the Rivers State Assembly, representing Ahoada-East Constituency II and Khana Constituency II.

The seat for Khana Constituency II became vacant following the death of the lawmaker, Hon. Dunebari Loolo, several months ago, while the Ahoada-East Constituency II seat was vacated after the resignation of Hon. Edison Ehie amid the lingering political crisis in the state.

Ahead of the primaries, the APC conducted congresses to elect delegates who participated in the exercise. Five delegates emerged from each constituency.

The delegate congresses, which held on Sunday in both constituencies, were conducted by committees constituted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC. The primaries proper were held on Monday and were monitored by officials of INEC alongside security agencies.

At the end of the exercise, Hon. Napoleon Ukalikpe emerged as the APC candidate for Ahoada-East Constituency II, while Mrs. Bulabari Loolo clinched the party’s ticket for Khana Constituency II.

Mrs. Loolo is the wife of the late lawmaker, Hon. Dunebari Loolo, and party sources said her emergence was a form of political compensation following her husband’s death.

The outcome of the primaries has reportedly unsettled the camp of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, with mixed reactions trailing the development.

While some party stakeholders accused the governor of sidelining the interests of his loyalists, others claimed that political operatives aligned with the FCT minister, operating under the banner of the Renewed Hope agenda, outmanoeuvred the governor’s camp.

The development has further deepened the political intrigue surrounding the forthcoming bye-elections, which are widely seen as a key test of strength between rival power blocs within the APC in Rivers State.