The candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the June 20, 2026, Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election, Dr. Fabeke Douglas Deeka, has formally filed a petition before the Election Petition Tribunal challenging the outcome of the poll.
In the petition, filed on July 9, 2026, and registered as EPT/RV/SEN/1/2026, the petitioners are Dr. Fabeke Douglas Deeka and the Action Alliance, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the declared winner, Senator Olaka Nwogu Johnson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the PDP are named as defendants.
In the petition, Dr. Douglas is asking the Tribunal to nullify the declaration of Senator Olaka Wogu as the winner of the bye-election and instead declare him the duly elected senator for Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
According to documents filed before the Tribunal, the Action Alliance candidate submitted what he described as comprehensive documentary and material evidence to support his claims. The petition alleges irregularities in the conduct of the June 20 bye-election and contends that the alleged violations substantially affected the outcome of the poll.
Dr. Douglas maintained that the evidence presented before the Tribunal justifies his request to be returned as the validly elected candidate, insisting that the electoral process did not comply with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
As of the time of filing this report, the Election Petition Tribunal had yet to fix a date for the commencement of hearing.
The respondents, including INEC, Senator Olaka Wogu and the PDP, are expected to file their responses to the petition within the timeframe prescribed by law before the matter proceeds to hearing.
