…As APC faction rejects electoral body’s authority to conduct poll
By Patrick Wemambu
Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday, August 30, 2025, for the local government election in the state.
Current chairman of the electoral body, Michael Odey, made the announcement during the unveiling of the revised timetable for the election in Port Harcourt, the state capital, Monday.
Odey explained that the decision to postpone the election was informed by the prevailing circumstances in the state, including constitutional provisions that empower the commission to reschedule elections in situations of crisis or potential unrest.
“You can recall that a general stakeholders meeting was convened by the sixth commission on Wednesday, 5th March 2025, during which August 9th 2025 was proclaimed as a date of local government election in Rivers State prior to the advent of the emergency rule.
“Here now, the seventh commission of RSIEC has taken proper cognizance of Section 13 Sub 5, of the RSIEC Law, which provides thus; that when the commission appoints a date for holding an election and there is a reason to believe that a serious breach of peace is likely to occur if the election holds on that date, or it is impossible to conduct the election as a result of natural disaster or any other emergency, the commission may postpone the election provided that the reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable,” he stated.
Continuing, he informed; “Therefore, by the powers vested upon the commission by this provision, I hereby announce the postponement of the local government council elections earlier fixed to hold on Saturday, 9th August 2025, for a very obvious and incontrovertible reason.
“Furthermore, in exercise of the powers conferred on the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission by Section 5 of the RSIEC Law number 2 of 2018, and all other powers enabling it in that behalf, to provide guidelines to political parties stipulating the rules and procedures for electioneering campaigns for the 2025 local government council elections and any other runoffs or reruns and bye elections that may arise therefore, the commissioner hereby makes the following rules and regulations and announces the new date for the postponed elections.
“There shall be local government elections on Saturday, the 30th of August 2025, in all the 23 local government areas of Rivers State. One councillor each shall be elected in each of the wards, and a chairman and vice chairman shall be elected for each of the local government councils.”
Reacting to the information from the RSIEC, the factional Tony Okocha-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has expressed readiness to participate in the August 30 Local Council elections in the state.
However, the APC Chairman in the state, Emeka Beke, has vowed to challenge the authority of the Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, to conduct the polls.
While Okocha noted that their decision to participate in the elections is because things will be done properly, Bekee argued that the sole administrator lacks the legal right to organise local council elections. He also noted that his party’s failure to obey the rule of law makes it difficult to determine whether they will participate in the polls or not.
Addressing newsmen after the announcement, Okocha said: “As you can see, you did not hear people shouting and showing aversion because things are done properly.
He said: “Recall that, some time ago, when this process was to hold, it was marred because things were not done properly.
“And that’s why some of us went to court. The APC in Rivers State is fully prepared for the election, any day, and any time.
“Don’t forget that we have always said that we are one hundred per cent ready for the election. The Chairman and his team are not new to election management matters.”
