Rivers votes in highly contested polls
Voters in Rivers State will today head to the polls to elect chairmen and councillors across 23 local government areas, despite widespread protests from lawyers, civil society, and political stakeholders who argue that the exercise violates the constitution. The election, scheduled under emergency rule with both the governor and House of Assembly suspended, has drawn […]
Rivers votes in highly contested polls
Voters in Rivers State will today head to the polls to elect chairmen and councillors across 23 local government areas, despite widespread protests from lawyers, civil society, and political stakeholders who argue that the exercise violates the constitution.
The election, scheduled under emergency rule with both the governor and House of Assembly suspended, has drawn controversy as critics insist it lacks legal foundation.
Recall that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State were suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an initial period of six months on March 18 after the declaration of the state of emergency. Before then, a Supreme Court ruling had voided the previously conducted LG elections in the state.
While the Rivers State High Court on Thursday dismissed a suit seeking to halt the polls, other pre-election litigations remain pending. One case at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt is scheduled for hearing on September 3, raising questions over the legality of the exercise.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), reconstituted in July 2025 by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), revised the timetable earlier set by the suspended board and fixed today’s election in the state’s 23 local government areas.
If successfully conducted, the exercise would make Rivers the first state in Nigeria to hold council elections under emergency rule, a precedent that has sparked deep controversy.
Weekend Trust recalls that when former President Olusegun Obasanjo imposed emergency rule in Plateau and Ekiti states in 2004, both governors and legislatures were suspended, but local government elections were not held. Similarly, during President Goodluck Jonathan’s state of emergency between 2011 and 2013 in Borno, Plateau, Yobe and Adamawa States, democratic institutions remained intact, unlike the current situation in Rivers.
Residents, stakeholders condemn polls as “assault on democracy”
Many Rivers residents and stakeholders argue that the Sole Administrator lacks the constitutional powers to organise elections.
Kenneth Chime, a voter in Port Harcourt, told Weekend Trust that he would boycott the polls.
“I will not vote in tomorrow’s election,” he said on Friday. “Everything done by the Sole Administrator is an aberration of the 1999 Constitution and against the Electoral Act.”
Others accused the state government of desperation, saying it was pushing through the election to gain political advantage ahead of 2027.
In a strongly worded statement, prominent leaders including Atedo Peterside, Celestine Omehia, Uche Secondus, Abiye Sekibo, Lee Maeba, Dakuku Peterside, Andrew Uchendu, Tele Ikuru, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Austin Tam-George, Donu Kogbara, Sokonte Davies, Glory Emeh, George Feyii, Honourable Asita, Sam Agwor and Ann-Kio Briggs, described the planned poll as “an assault on democracy.”
“The proposed local government elections in Rivers State are nothing short of an existential assault on our democracy and a brazen flouting of Nigeria’s Constitution,” they declared. “These elections, orchestrated by a ‘Sole Administrator’ with no constitutional mandate, threaten the foundations of our federal system, the rule of law, and peace in Rivers State.”
They argued that the RSIEC constituted by Ibas was illegitimate, having been set up without the approval of a governor or confirmation by the House of Assembly as required under the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2018.
“The law stipulates that only an elected governor, with legislative confirmation, can appoint RSIEC members,” the statement noted. “Any appointment outside this process is unconstitutional. Worse still, the commission ignored the mandatory 90-day notice period before announcing the polls on short notice.”
The stakeholders urged President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the judiciary, civil society, the media, and the international community to intervene before the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy suffers permanent damage.
Rivers court clears polls but suits pile up
Despite the opposition, Justice Stephen Jumbo of the Rivers State High Court on Thursday dismissed an ex-parte motion by legal practitioner Williams Abayomi-Stanley seeking to stop the elections. The court held that the application lacked merit, though it granted substituted service to the defendants and adjourned further hearing to September 10.
The claimant had asked the court to determine whether the President could appoint RSIEC officials to conduct polls in Rivers State. His counsel, Godsent Elewa, said after the ruling that the substantive suit would continue.
In a separate case, former APC candidate Chima Nnokam and four others asked the court to declare today’s election unconstitutional. They are also seeking reinstatement of Justice Adolphus Enebeli as RSIEC chairman, arguing that his five-year tenure, duly approved by the Assembly two years ago, remains valid.
Civil society group FREECON has also filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking to halt the elections. Its counsel, Amegua Lezina, argued that by Sections 197 and 198 of the Constitution, the President cannot appoint a Sole Administrator to usurp the governor’s powers in constituting RSIEC.
The Emeka Beke-led faction of the APC also approached the court to stop the polls, challenging RSIEC’s recognition of rival candidates. Represented by Awoala Joybel Emine, the faction argued that only its nominees are the party’s authentic candidates.
The suit further compounds Rivers APC’s long-standing internal divisions, adding to the legal cloud over the exercise.
Police restrict movement, warn cultists
Meanwhile, to prevent violence, Rivers State Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju announced restrictions on human and vehicular movement from midnight to 6 pm on election day.
He warned cultists and political thugs against disrupting the process.
“We have all it takes to checkmate any action aimed at causing a breach of peace before, during, and after the elections,” Adepoju said.
Essential workers and election officials will be given tags to move freely.
Tribunal constituted, government declares half day
Chief Judge of Rivers State Justice Simeon Amadi has also constituted three election petition tribunals, one for each senatorial district, to handle disputes arising from the polls. He urged tribunal members to be firm, fearless, and impartial, reminding them they had only 30 days by law to conclude petitions.
Meanwhile, the state government declared a half working day yesterday to enable public servants to travel and vote. Acting Head of Service Dr Inyingi Brown said the Sole Administrator approved the directive to ease participation.
But Rivers-based lawyer, Chetam Nwala described the polls as “an aberration and a desecration of the Constitution.”
Speaking on a national television yesterday, Nwala said he would boycott the election, believing many others would do the same.
“Personally, I won’t be part of that charade tomorrow,” he declared.
“There will be serious voter apathy. The courts have yet to resolve critical questions, including whether Section 2 of the RSIEC Law can be suspended by the President or a Sole Administrator, and whether elections form part of emergency powers under Section 305 of the Constitution,” he added.
He said such unresolved issues had cast a long shadow over the legitimacy of today’s polls.
RSIEC distributes materials
Despite the controversies, RSIEC confirmed it had distributed both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all 23 LGAs and 319 wards. The items include ballot papers, boxes, voter education pamphlets, and logistics supplies.
RSIEC Chairman Dr Michael Odey said at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt that the commission was committed to free, fair, and credible elections.
“We have deployed materials across the state,” Odey said.
“Our officials must ensure their secure handling and timely delivery to polling units,” he added.