The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Senator Olaka Nwogu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election in Rivers State.

Announcing the result, INEC stated that Nwogu secured a total of 47,961 votes to emerge victorious in the contest.

According to the official results, the PDP candidate polled 47,961 votes, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) garnered 1,647 votes. The Action Alliance (AA) secured 1,175 votes, while the Labour Party (LP) received 367 votes.

The by-election was contested by four political parties, all of which are reportedly members of the political coalition associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Political observers noted that the coalition had earlier settled on Senator Olaka Nwogu as its preferred candidate for the election, a move that may have contributed to his overwhelming victory at the polls.

With the declaration, Nwogu is set to represent Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the Senate, filling the vacant seat following the conduct of the by-election by INEC.