The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has recorded a resounding victory in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election, with Wogu Olaka Johnson emerging winner after securing the highest number of valid votes cast in the keenly contested poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Mr. Wogu Olaka Johnson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election conducted on June 20, 2026.
The result was announced on Sunday by the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Rosemary Ogwu, at the Rivers South-East Senatorial Collation Centre located within the Khana Local Government Council Secretariat in Bori.
Announcing the outcome, Ogwu stated that Johnson secured 47,961 votes to defeat candidates of three other political parties in the contest.
According to the official results, Mr. Osar Erewari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 1,647 votes, while Mr. Douglas Fabeka Beke of the Action Alliance (AA) received 1,175 votes. The Labour Party (LP) candidate, Mr. Sam Barikwa, garnered 367 votes.
“I, Professor Rosemary Ogwu, hereby certify that I am the Returning Officer for the 2026 Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election held on June 20, 2026,” she said while formally declaring the result.
Ogwu noted that Johnson fulfilled all legal requirements stipulated under Nigeria’s electoral laws and secured the highest number of valid votes cast in the election.
“Wogu Olaka Johnson of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes cast, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” she announced.
The declaration ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, including Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC National Commissioner, and Dr. Johnson Siniken, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State.
Other dignitaries present included Mr. Etekamba Omoren, REC in charge of Delta State; Dr. Angela Ebhodaghe, Administrative Secretary of INEC in Rivers State; and Dr. Mohamed Fufore, Deputy Director of Election Management at INEC Headquarters, Abuja.
Also in attendance were Mr. Otafu Peter, Head of Electoral Operations in Rivers State, local government collation officers, electoral officers, party agents, security personnel and journalists.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant Rivers South-East Senatorial seat in the National Assembly following the death of Senator Barry Barinada Mpigi in February 2026.
Johnson’s victory ensures continued representation for the senatorial district and concludes the electoral process initiated to fill the vacancy created by the late lawmaker’s passing.
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