Residents of Rivers State have been urged to maintain peace as they head to the polls for an anticipated local government election, which is holding in 6,866 polling units across 23 local government areas of the state.
This election, being supervised by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), has been praised by many as a move towards restoring democratic governance in the oil-rich South-South state following a turbulent political period.
The election is coming in the wake of a February 2025 Supreme Court ruling that nullified the October 5, 2024, local government polls due to alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The court’s decision, delivered by Justice Jamilu Tukur, held that the RSIEC failed to adhere to Section 150 of the Electoral Act, prompting a fresh election to ensure a transparent and credible process.
Despite the political undercurrents, RSIEC, now led by a newly appointed Chairman Dr. Michael Ekpali Odey, said it is set to hold the LG elections, promising residents of a free, fair, and transparent election.
The commission also announced that it is working with the Rivers State Police Command, alongside the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other agencies, to conduct the election.
RSIEC has also cleared Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the All Progressives Congress, the Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Zenith Party (ZP), Accord Party (AP), African Action Congress (AAC), the Action People’s Party (APP), and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the election.
Others are the Action Alliance, Youth Party, Young Progressive Party, Action Democratic Party, New Nigerian People’s Party, African Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, and the Allied People’s Party.
The New Diplomat checks showed that PDP fielded only three chairmanship candidates, while the APC presented 20 chairmanship candidates across the state’s 23 LGAs.
The PDP candidates are Dr. Gift Worlu for Obio/Akpor—home LGA of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike— Allwell Ihunda for Port Harcourt City LGA, and Chukwu Ogbugu for Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA.
The APC candidates, mostly loyalists of Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and many of whom previously served as LGA chairmen during his tenure as governor, include Confidence Deko for Gokana LGA, Dr. Chidi Lloyd for Emohua LGA, Obari Ollormate for Eleme LGA, Akuro Tobins for Okrika LGA, and Dr. Thomas Bari-ara, among others.
