INEC Disqualifies ADC, PDP From Participating In Rivers By-Election

By Ayodele Oni

Failure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to upload result of the primary election it conducted to the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has led to its disqualification from participating in the February 21 by-election in Rivers state.

Also, INEC disqualified the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from participating in the by-election.

INEC revealed that the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP) will not participate in the February 21 by-election in Rivers state.

The election will be held in Ahoada east constituency 2 and Khana constituency 2.

Both seats were declared vacant in the Rivers assembly following the resignation of Edison Ehie, who was appointed as chief of staff by Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers; and the passing of Dinebari Loolo in September 2023.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Gabriel Yomere, INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC) in Rivers, said candidates of seven political parties have been cleared to contest the polls.

He listed the participating parties as AA, APC, APN, BP, NNPP, YPP and ZLP.

“These are the parties that will participate in the elections,” he said.

Yomere assured residents of a free, fair, and credible election, explaining that the PDP, LP, and ADC were excluded for failing to meet the stipulated requirements.

Yomere said the PDP did not conduct primaries, while the LP cited ongoing litigation.

He said although the ADC conducted primaries, it failed to upload the results to the INEC headquarters portal within the prescribed period, as required by law.

“That’s why they were excluded. Nobody is interested in excluding them,” Yomere said.

Yomere said all Bimodal Voter Accreditation system (BVAS) machines for the poll have been configured and non-sensitive materials distributed, noting that only INEC staff — and not ad hoc personnel — will conduct the exercise.