Rivers, Enugu impose movement curbs ahead of June 20 by-elections

Ahead of senatorial by-elections scheduled for June 20, 2026, two Nigerian states have implemented separate travel restrictions. Seven local government areas in Rivers State's River South East Senatorial District will be affected by enforcement from the state police command, while Enugu State has similarly restricted movement across six local government areas within its Enugu North Senatorial District.

The Rivers State Police Command identified the impacted zones as Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Elem, Oyigbo, and Opobo-Nkoro. Authorities described these curbs as components of a comprehensive security strategy designed to guarantee orderly, peaceful, and credible electoral proceedings.

Violations—encompassing vote buying, voter intimidation, thuggery, and allied unlawful activities capable of disrupting elections—will result in legal action under electoral statutes, officials cautioned. From midnight on Friday, the Rivers restrictions commence.

Enugu's ban on movement spans six local government areas across the Enugu North Senatorial District, encompassing 102 electoral wards. Prof.

Chidieber Onyia, the State Government Secretary, disclosed that restrictions will operate between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on polling day. The Enugu announcement specifically exempted government functionaries from these movement curbs.

Vacancies in both senatorial seats precipitated these by-elections. In Rivers, the former senator's death created the vacancy.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is administering both elections. Throughout Nigeria's electoral exercises, such movement restrictions serve as customary security protocols aimed at curbing electoral fraud and preserving public tranquility.