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Local government

Rivers State Local Government Elections: A New Round of Controversies

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The announcement by Michael Ekpai Odey, Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), that local government elections in Rivers State will hold on 30th August 2025 has sparked controversies among various stakeholders in the state. The move has reignited the deep political divisions that have plagued Rivers State's political terrain since 2013, when the supremacy battle between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and then-State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, began.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Emeka Beke-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticized the arrangements for the election and hinted at a possible boycott, arguing that the conditions necessary for the conduct of council polls have not been met by RSIEC.
  • The Tony Okocha-led faction of the APC, on the other hand, has thrown its weight behind the election timetable and is preparing to participate, with its chairman, Tony Okocha, stating that his party was ready "any time, any day" to participate in the council polls.
  • The APC appears doomed to repeat the same path it took in the 2019 and 2023 general elections, when it failed to field candidates for elective positions in the state due to internal party squabbles.
  • The Rivers State branch of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has rejected the election timetable, stating that the new RSIEC board was unconstitutionally constituted and lacked the legitimacy to conduct or reschedule elections.
  • The coalition of Rivers State Youths has questioned the legality of the proposed polls, describing it as likely to exacerbate the lingering political crisis in the state.
  • A Port Harcourt-based human rights lawyer, Higher King, has warned that the proposed local government election might further escalate the situation, arguing that the timing appeared deliberately harmful and could install local officials who do not support or respect the state governor's leadership.

Statistics:

  • The 30th August 2025 local government election will be the third time the APC in Rivers State will fail to field candidates for elective positions due to internal party squabbles.
  • The RSIEC has given a 32-day notice for the election, which is grossly inadequate and violates the law, according to the Rivers State branch of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).
  • Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court has ordered INEC not to issue a voters' register to the state Independent Electoral Commission led by Justice Adolphus Enebeli.
  • The state of emergency imposed on Rivers State is yet to be lifted, with Governor Siminalayi Fubara still absent and expected back on 18th September.

Sources:

  • The announcement by Michael Ekpai Odey, Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), was made on Monday, with no specific date mentioned.
  • A statement signed by Darlington Nwauju, Spokesman of the Emeka Beke-led faction of the APC, was issued in Port Harcourt.
  • A statement signed by Tony Okocha, Chairman of the Tony Okocha-led faction of the APC, was issued immediately after the RSIEC announcement on 28th July.
  • A statement signed by Emmanuel Obe, Spokesman of the Rivers State branch of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), was issued rejecting the election timetable.
  • A statement signed by Imeabe Saviour, Chairman of the Coalition of Rivers State Youths, was issued questioning the legality of the proposed polls.
  • A report by Higher King, a Port Harcourt-based human rights lawyer, was cited warning that the proposed local government election might further escalate the situation.

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