The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended voting hours in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election following disruptions caused by heavy rainfall across parts of the district.
The commission announced on Saturday that polling, originally scheduled to end at 2:30 p.m., would now close at 3:30 p.m. to allow eligible voters affected by the weather conditions additional time to cast their ballots.
The decision was communicated through a message issued to members of the INEC Press Corps by the Commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi.
According to the commission, the extension became necessary after reports indicated that heavy rainfall led to late commencement of voting activities in several locations across the senatorial district.
“Due to the reported heavy rainfall in most areas within Rivers South East Senatorial District, late commencement of poll was recorded. Consequently, the Chairman of the Commission has given approval for extension of close of poll from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the bye-election,” the statement read.
The bye-election is being conducted to fill the vacant Rivers South-East Senatorial seat in the National Assembly following the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi earlier this year.
INEC had fixed June 20, 2026, for the election and initially scheduled voting to hold from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. across the district.
The election is taking place across 88 registration areas and 1,629 polling units spread across seven local government areas.
The affected local government areas include Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, Eleme, Tai, Oyigbo, Khana and Gokana.
INEC had earlier assured voters, political parties and stakeholders of its preparedness to conduct a credible, free and fair electoral process.
The commission explained that the one-hour extension was introduced to ensure that voters affected by weather-related delays were not disenfranchised.
