The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has announced plans to conduct fresh local government elections in the state. According to a statement signed by RSIEC Chairman Dr. Michael Ekpali Odey, a general meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 28, 2025, at the Commission’s headquarters on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, starting at 2:00 p.m.
The meeting will bring together leaders of all registered political parties, traditional rulers, security agencies, religious organizations, professional bodies, media representatives, civil society groups, non-governmental organizations, community-based groups, and members of the general electorate. The key agenda is the formal unveiling of the revised timetable and guidelines for the 2025 Local Government Elections in Rivers State.
This announcement follows the Supreme Court’s ruling on February 28, 2025, which nullified the local government elections held on October 5, 2024. The apex court found that the elections violated crucial provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, specifically Section 150(3), which requires a 90-day notice to stakeholders and the proper release of the voters’ register. The All Progressives Congress (APC) had challenged the election on grounds of these irregularities.
Prior to the Supreme Court decision, a Federal High Court in Abuja, led by Justice Peter Lifu, had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register and restrained security agencies from providing election support. Although the Court of Appeal later vacated this order on jurisdictional grounds, the Supreme Court reinstated it, thereby nullifying the local elections and removing all elected chairmen across the state’s 23 local government areas.
Following the Supreme Court’s judgment and the ensuing state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025—which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly—Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.) was appointed Sole Administrator to oversee governance during the emergency period.
In response, the Sole Administrator dissolved and reconstituted the leadership of RSIEC and local government councils, setting the stage for fresh elections to restore democratic governance in Rivers State.