Rivers People To Elect Chairmen, Councillors August 9

• RSIEC vows to conduct free and fair elections

By PHC Telegraph

Guidelines put together by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission for the conduct of fresh local government elections in the State have been released. According to the Electoral Commission, Local Government elections will hold across the State on the 9th of August, 2025.

The Commission which called a stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt Wednesday vowed to conduct free and fair elections throughout the 23 local government areas of the State.

Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd.), Chairman of the State Electoral Commission urged stakeholders to abide by the rules, saying that the Commission has no intention whatsoever to undermine democratic principles.

“We are committed to ensuring a transparent electoral process that reflects the will of the people”, Enebeli stated, “Political parties, candidates, and voters must conduct themselves in accordance with the law.”

The timetable released by RSIEC for the election outlines the following key dates:

• April 15 – May 10, 2025: Collection and submission of nomination forms by political parties.

• May 15 – June 30, 2025: Screening of candidates.

• July 1 – August 7, 2025: Electioneering campaigns.

• August 9, 2025: Local Government Elections.

Only registered political parties, RSIEC declared, can sponsor candidates for the election.

It added that all contestants must meet the requirements set by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and the Rivers State Local Government Law.

The resolve of RSIEC to conduct elections to fill vacancies at the grassroots aligns with the ruling of the Supreme Court.

The Superior Court had quashed the last elections, saying in its decision that the Rivers State Electoral Commission did not comply substantially with the dictates of the nation’s Electoral Act.

Among political parties, including those parties which did not take part in the last local government elections as a result of internal disagreements, there is hope that they will field candidates this time.

Rivers people had turned out in the last election despite the absence of the police at the polling booth.

There are strong indications that many more people angered by what they see as a conspiracy against the Rivers Governor are more likely to turn out in August to vote.

Nyesom Wike and his accolytes, some critics anticipate, will do what they can to truncate the local government elections.

An insider told the Telegraph that the plan by members of the Wike camp will be to harass the leadership of the State Independent Electoral Commission in a bid to derail the exercise.

Wike and his friends who are celebrating the verdict of the Supreme Court would want the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct the LGA election.

That may take long in coming, given the intricate processes that are involved in the amendment of the constitution.