The Rivers State Police Command has announced a restriction of movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles across seven local government areas ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.

The affected local government areas are Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo, and Opobo/Nkoro.

The election, which will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is being held to fill the vacant senatorial seat following the death of former representative Barry Mpigi, who passed away in February.

SEE MORE: Navy Uncovers, Dismantles Illegal Refined Petroleum Products Depot in Rivers

In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, said the restriction will run from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2026, to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

The statement quoted the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, as saying the measure forms part of comprehensive security arrangements to ensure a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process.

According to the police, the restriction is aimed at enhancing public safety, protecting electoral officials and materials, preventing electoral malpractice, and ensuring voters can exercise their civic duty without fear, intimidation, or harassment.

The statement read in part: “The Rivers State Police Command hereby notifies members of the public, particularly residents of Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, of a temporary restriction on movement ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District By-Election scheduled to hold on Saturday, 20th June 2026.”

“As part of comprehensive security measures put in place to guarantee a peaceful, orderly, free, fair, and credible electoral process, the movement of persons, vehicles, and motorcycles within the affected Local Government Areas will be restricted from 12:00 a.m. on Friday, 19th June 2026, until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, 20th June 2026.”

The command warned that anyone who violates the order or engages in electoral offences such as vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery, or any act capable of disrupting the election will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.

“The Command warns that any individual or group found violating the restriction order, engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process or participating in any form of electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery or any other unlawful activity will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.”

The police urged political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected LGAs to remain peaceful and cooperate fully with security agencies.

“CP Olugbenga Adepoju calls on all political parties, candidates, supporters, and residents of the affected Local Government Areas to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies to ensure a successful electoral exercise.”

The command assured that adequate security personnel have been deployed in collaboration with other agencies to protect lives, property, and electoral materials throughout the exercise.

“The Command wishes to reassure the public that robust security arrangements have been put in place, in collaboration with other security and relevant agencies, to ensure the protection of lives and property, safeguard electoral materials, and guarantee a peaceful, free, fair and credible election.”

Residents were also advised to stay alert and report suspicious movements to security authorities.

The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it will not participate in the proposed local government election scheduled for December 26, 2026, accusing Governor Seyi Makinde of attempting to retain political influence after leaving office.

The opposition party described the planned poll as illegal, ill-conceived, and designed to install individuals loyal to the governor in local government councils ahead of the end of his tenure on May 29, 2027.

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) had initially fixed January 2027 for the election but later moved it to December 2026 following the release of the timetable for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

ALSO READ: Fayose Drops Bombshell, Accuses Makinde of Orchestrating Oyo School Abduction

The rescheduling has drawn criticism from political stakeholders, who questioned the need for fresh local government elections barely six months before the tenure of the current chairmen and councillors expires across the state’s 33 local government areas and 351 wards.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by the APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the party announced its decision to boycott the poll and vowed to work with other stakeholders to stop what it described as an attempt to waste public resources.

According to the APC, the proposed election is part of a broader plan by Governor Makinde to maintain control of local government administration after leaving office.

“The same Makinde is now trying to impose another set of lackeys who would be loyal to him even after leaving Agodi Government House, and he knows he cannot do this after the conduct of the 2027 general elections, the outcome of which would strip him of all political power and influence,” the statement said.

The party also accused the governor of opposing local government autonomy and interfering with grassroots democracy.

“The whole world knows that Gov. Makinde does not believe in local government autonomy, and when it comes to democracy at the grassroots, he cannot be trusted for anything,” APC stated.

The opposition party further alleged that local government funds had been mismanaged under the current administration, citing Oriire Local Government as an example.

“Or how can one explain the situation whereby a local government council like Oriire receives over N550 million in monthly allocation from the federal government, and there is nothing to show for it because a governor sits on the money in the name of Joint Account operation with his own office?” the statement queried.

The APC also linked the issue to insecurity in some rural communities, claiming that poor local government administration had left some areas vulnerable to attacks.

“It is sad that Gov. Makinde wishes for the continuation of the system that exposed Ahoro Esiele and Yawota in Oriire Local Government Area and other rural communities in the state to bandit attacks,” the party alleged.

Describing previous local government elections in the state as fraudulent, the APC insisted that residents would no longer tolerate what it called manipulated electoral exercises.

“The fraud called local government polls in 2020 and 2024 are the last that the good people of the state would witness,” the statement added.

The party urged OYSIEC to halt preparations for the December election, maintaining that the exercise lacks legitimacy and would neither strengthen democracy nor address challenges facing local councils across the state.

APC further insisted that the people of Oyo State are demanding genuine local government autonomy, transparency, and democratic governance at the grassroots level.

A major political development has emerged in Kano State ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, son of former Kano State Governor Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, officially entering the race as the running mate to Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.

The announcement was disclosed on Monday by the spokesperson of the Kwankwassiya Movement, Habeeb Saleh Mohammed, who confirmed that Mustapha Kwankwaso had been selected as Gwarzo’s deputy governorship candidate for the upcoming election.

ALSO READ: NNPC Boosts Orthopaedic Healthcare, Donates MRI Equipment at Kano

“Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has been unveiled as the running mate to His Excellency Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo for the 2027 governorship election,” Mohammed stated.

Mustapha Kwankwaso, a businessman and politician, is widely recognized as one of the prominent figures within the Kwankwassiya political movement, a powerful political bloc founded by his father and known for its strong influence across Kano State.

His emergence on the NDC ticket is already generating discussions among political stakeholders, with many viewing the move as a strategic attempt to tap into the widespread support base associated with the Kwankwasiya movement.

Political observers believe the partnership between Gwarzo and Mustapha Kwankwaso could reshape the political dynamics in Kano as parties begin positioning themselves for what is expected to be a fiercely contested governorship election.

The development also signals the growing involvement of a new generation of political actors in Kano politics, while highlighting the enduring influence of the Kwankwaso political family in the state’s affairs.

With more than a year before campaigns fully gather momentum, the Gwarzo-Kwankwaso ticket is already attracting attention and could become one of the most closely watched political alliances in Kano ahead of the 2027 polls.