LG Polls: Confusion As PDP Members Emerge As APC Candidates In Rivers

There seems to be confusion in Rivers State over the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for August 30, 2025 in Rivers State as some card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were being returned as chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in majority of the local government areas in the state.

LEADERSHIP observed that out of the 23 LGAs in the state, PDP members emerged as APC chairmanship candidates in 12 LGAs in results so far released after primaries conducted on Saturday.

The council areas where PDP members emerged as APC candidates include Asari Toru, Ikwerre, Khana, Tai, Degema, Bonny, Oyigbo, Omuma, Ogu/Bolo, Gokana and Etche.

Our correspondent observed that those who are PDP members and won on the party’s platform so far were from Emohua, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas of the state.

Meanwhile, there are indications that major political parties in Rivers State, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Action Peoples Party (APP) and a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), may boycott the planned local government elections.

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Recall that APP, which had the support of the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, won 22, out of the 23 local government areas in the state during the October 5, 2024 LG election in the state.

The elected chairmen and their councillors were however sacked by the February 25, 2025 judgement of the Supreme Court, which ruled that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) did not observe the 90 day-notice as stipulated by the Electoral Act.

Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, ADC spokesman in the state, Chief Luckyman Egila, said the party was yet to decide on whether to participate in the election, noting that a stakeholders’ meeting will determine their final position.

Egila said, “In the coming days, the critical stakeholders of the ADC will meet, deliberate and share our position on whether we will be partaking in the forthcoming LG election or not. That is our position. It is after the meeting that we will tell everyone our position.”

Also, spokesman of the Chief Emeka Beke-led faction of APC in the state, Hon. Darlington Nwauju, stated that the participation of the party in the election hinges on resolving internal conflicts, as well as gaining RSIEC’s full recognition.

Nwauju said, “We have taken a position based on some of the missteps that the RSIEC had made in terms of recognising the duly validated leadership of the APC in Rivers.”

“But with the interaction we had with the national leadership of the APC, I think we will have some rapprochement to ensure that the fortunes of the party are not endangered because of vested interest of some individuals who are politically desperate.”