Rivers electoral body to unveil new timetable for local government polls

Summary

• The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) will unveil a revised timetable and guidelines for the 2025 Local Government (LG) Elections on Monday, July 28, 2025
• This follows the Supreme Court’s annulment of the previous LG elections held on October 5, 2024, due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, specifically the 90-day notice and proper voters’ register release
• The announcement will occur during a stakeholders’ meeting at 2:00 p.m. at the RSIEC Headquarters in Port Harcourt, inviting political parties, traditional rulers, security agencies, and civil society groups
• The new elections are crucial for restoring democratic governance at the local level in Rivers State and complying with a federal government ultimatum regarding LG polls

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) is set to release a revised timetable and guidelines for the 2025 Local Government (LG) Elections on Monday, July 28, 2025.

This critical announcement follows the Supreme Court’s annulment of the LG elections held on October 5, 2024, which were deemed non-compliant with the Electoral Act 2022 due to issues surrounding the required 90-day notice to stakeholders and the proper release of the voters’ register.

The unveiling will take place at a stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the RSIEC Headquarters, located at 239–243 Aba Road, Port Harcourt. Intended to formally present the updated electoral roadmap, it will address the legal deficiencies that led to the nullification of the previous polls.

RSIEC has extended invitations to a wide array of stakeholders, including leaders of all registered political parties, traditional rulers, security agencies, religious organisations, media representatives, professional bodies, civil society groups, non-governmental organisations, community-based groups, and the general electorate.

The Supreme Court’s ruling on February 28, 2025, invalidated the October 2024 LG elections, specifically citing inadequate notice and problems with the voters’ register. Following this judgment, Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to temporarily manage the 23 LG councils until fresh elections could be conducted.

The October 5, 2024, LG elections were steeped in controversy. A Federal High Court in Abuja initially barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC and prohibited security agencies from providing support due to non-compliance with electoral laws.

Although the order was later vacated by the Court of Appeal on jurisdictional grounds, the Supreme Court ultimately upheld the annulment. Both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted the 2024 polls, citing legal irregularities. Despite their warnings, the Action Peoples Party (APP) controversially won 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats, with results for Etche LGA pending.

The elections were also marred by disruptions, including explosions and gunshots in some areas, compounded by the police’s stated abstention from providing security due to a court order. In the end, the Supreme Court’s verdict led to the removal of all elected chairmen from the 23 LGAs, necessitating fresh elections.

While the July 28 meeting will detail the full timetable, RSIEC Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retired) previously announced on March 5, 2025, that the fresh LG elections would be held on August 9, 2025. Under the guidelines, political parties must submit Expression of Interest Forms between April 24 and May 12, 2025, to participate.

Election campaigns are slated to run from July 7 to August 7, 2025 and candidates are required to pay a fee of ₦5,000 for councillorship positions and ₦10,000 for chairmanship and vice chairmanship positions.

Justice Enebeli has pledged transparency and adherence to electoral laws, assuring stakeholders of a free, fair, and credible process, and urging political parties to comply with the rules.

The announcement comes amidst heightened political tensions in Rivers State, including a state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025, and ongoing disputes between Governor Fubara and the state House of Assembly led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule.

Posts on X indicate significant public and organisational interest in the upcoming announcement, with legal and media entities highlighting the July 28 meeting as a crucial step towards conducting fresh polls.

Although the charged political climate suggests that the new electoral process will likely face intense scrutiny, the 2025 LG elections are paramount for Rivers State to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive and restore democratic governance at the local level.

The federal government’s ultimatum for states to conduct LG polls by October 2024, coupled with the Supreme Court’s ruling barring funds to non-democratically elected LGs, underscores the urgent need for these elections for both local governance and resource allocation.