Key political figures and pro-democracy advocates in Rivers State have rejected the planned local government elections scheduled for August 30, 2025, describing the process as unconstitutional and a threat to democratic governance.
In a statement released on Friday and addressed to President Bola Tinubu, the group of stakeholders characterised the proposed polls as “an existential assault on democracy” and “a brazen flouting of Nigeria’s Constitution.” They alleged that the elections are being orchestrated by a political appointee with no constitutional authority, whom they claim was imposed by the Federal Government in violation of due process and established law.
The stakeholders argued that Rivers State presently lacks a duly constituted Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), as mandated by Sections 2, 3, 5 and 12 of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2018. They emphasised that, according to Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), only an elected governor, with confirmation from the state House of Assembly, has the authority to appoint the RSIEC chairman and members.
They also faulted the RSIEC for failing to comply with the statutory requirement of issuing a 90-day notice before conducting any election, as stipulated under Section 20 of the RSIEC Law. The sudden announcement of an August 30 poll date, they said, came without adequate time for candidate nominations or the release of an election timetable. The group argued that this mirrors procedural lapses that previously led the Supreme Court to nullify the 2024 local government elections in the state.
According to the stakeholders, the timing of the election is also inappropriate given several ongoing legal disputes. They pointed out that multiple court cases, including those before the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court, are challenging both the legitimacy of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State and the legal existence of a functioning RSIEC. They noted that political parties have lodged multiple sub judice objections, yet the electoral process is proceeding under what they described as a manufactured state of emergency.
The statement stressed that Rivers State is currently facing a constitutional crisis, with both the executive and legislative arms of the state government suspended by the Federal Government. They questioned the rationale for holding local government elections under such circumstances, especially when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has considered by-elections impossible in similar conditions.
The group called on President Tinubu, the National Assembly, the judiciary, civil society organisations, the media, and the international community to urgently intervene. They warned that the state is at a critical juncture, facing a choice between “surrendering to impunity” or “upholding the Constitution and the will of the people.”
The stakeholders maintained that allowing the elections to proceed under the current arrangement would undermine the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for democratic processes in Nigeria. They urged all relevant institutions to take decisive action to prevent what they see as a blatant violation of constitutional provisions and electoral laws.
Their position underscores mounting political tension in Rivers State, where disputes over governance, legitimacy, and federal intervention have deepened over the past year. With less than a month to the proposed polls, the controversy raises uncertainty over whether the elections will go ahead as planned or be halted by judicial or political action.
This dispute over the August 30 elections is the latest in a series of legal and political battles that have shaped Rivers State’s political landscape, with many observers warning that the outcome could have significant implications for both local governance and Nigeria’s broader democratic stability.
