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

The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant seat of the district in the National Assembly, following  the death of Senator Barry Barinada Mpigi in February

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

Ogwu said that Johnson polled 47,961 votes to defeat three other candidates in the election while  Mr Osar Erewari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 1,647 votes. Mr Douglas Fabeka Beke of the Action Alliance (AA) polled 1,175 votes.

Mr 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.

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