EMMANUEL NLEWEDUM, Port Harcourt
The much-anticipated local government elections in Rivers State have been fixed for August 30, 2025, as announced by the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey, announced the new date on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, where he also unveiled a revised timetable and guidelines for the council elections.
The announcement of new date for the local government polls in Rivers State is coming months after the Supreme Court nullified the previous council elections conducted in October 5, 2024, by the then RSIEC Chairman, retired Justice Adophus Enebeli, under the suspended Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, citing inconsistencies with the Electoral Act, and that the commission did not follow due process.
Odey said the election was rescheduled following the state of emergency declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu, which disrupted RSIEC’s initial preparations, and also led to a change of leadership of the Commission.
His words, “We are committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election, and this adjustment is in the interest of all stakeholders,” Odey said.
He explained that the electoral process will start with the expression of interest by political parties scheduled to take place from Monday, July 28 to Wednesday, July 30.
He added that all political parties are expected to submit the venue, date, and time for their primaries between Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1, while the party primaries will hold on Saturday, August 2, while submission of names of candidates who emerged from the primaries is fixed for the period between August 2 and 4.
The RSIEC Chairman further stated that the commission will issue nomination forms to chairmanship and councillorship candidates on August 5 and names of all candidates will be published on August 23, while electoral campaigns will end by midnight on August 28.
“The main election into the local government councils will be conducted on August 30, while run-off for the chairmanship elections, where necessary, has been slated for September 6,” he said.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas is expected to oversee the conduct of the August 30 local government election in the state.
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