The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Wogu Olaka Johnson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election held on June 20.

Rosemary Ogwu, the Returning Officer for the election, announced the result on Sunday at the Rivers South-East Senatorial Collation Centre at the Khana Local Government Council Secretariat in Bori.

Ms Ogwu said Mr Johnson polled 47,961 votes to defeat three other candidates in the keenly contested election.

According to her, Osar Erewari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 1,647 votes, while Douglas Fabeka Beke of the Action Alliance (AA) garnered 1,175 votes.

She added that Sam Barikwa of the Labour Party (LP) received 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.

Ma Ogwu stated that Johnson of the PDP had satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of valid votes cast, saying that he “is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.”

The declaration of the winner was attended by May Agbamuche-Mbu, INEC National Commissioner, and Johnson Siniken, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Rivers State.

Others include Etekamba Omoren, REC in charge of Delta State; Angela Ebhodaghe, Administrative Secretary of INEC in Rivers State and Mohamed Fufore, Deputy Director of Election Management at INEC Headquarters, Abuja.

Also present were 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 seat of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly following the death of Senator Barry Barinada Mpigi in February. 

(NAN)