The All Progressives Congress (APC) has successfully concluded its ward congresses in the Ahoada East and Khana Local Government Areas of Rivers State. The exercise was convened to elect delegates for the party’s primaries, preceding the House of Assembly bye-elections scheduled for 21 February.
The congresses focused on selecting the representatives who will ultimately cast ballots to determine the party’s flagbearers for Ahoada East State Constituency II and Khana State Constituency II.
In Ahoada East, the proceedings were overseen by the Party Congress and Primary Committee, chaired by Shehu Dange, with Smart Iheanazor serving as Secretary. Members of the party’s appeal committee were also in attendance to ensure procedural integrity.
The committee conducted a tour of the six wards within the constituency to monitor the elections and verify adherence to party protocols. The process was further validated by the presence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by a delegation led by Okogbule Emilia, the Assistant Electoral Officer for Operations.
Security remained a priority, with personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force stationed across the wards to maintain public order. Reports indicate the exercise was conducted peacefully, with members utilizing a voice-vote system to elect five delegates per ward.
Concurrently, the APC held its congress in Khana Local Government Area. This exercise was administered by a committee headed by Oyoala Peter, ensuring that the selection of delegates remained strictly aligned with the party’s constitution.
Similar to the Ahoada East exercise, the Khana congress was monitored by INEC officials and high-ranking security agencies. The wards in this constituency also successfully elected five delegates each to represent their interests in the forthcoming primaries.
The upcoming bye-elections seek to fill seats that became vacant under contrasting circumstances:
Ahoada East II: Vacated following the resignation of Edison Ehie, who transitioned to the role of Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Khana II: Remains vacant following the untimely passing of the Honourable Dinebari Loolo in September 2023.
Party officials have expressed their profound satisfaction with the decorum displayed by members, describing the successful congresses as a “pivotal milestone” in the APC’s preparations for the February polls.
The newly elected delegates from both constituencies are now set to participate in the party primaries to finalise the APC’s candidates for the House of Assembly.
