Ahead of the Rivers State local government election, scheduled for August 30, 2025, card-carrying members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been elected as chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in most 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 according to results so far released after primaries last 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.
LEADERSHIP observed that those who are PDP members and won on the party’s platform so far 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 All Progressives People’s Party (APP) and a faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), may boycott the planned local government elections in the state.
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 LGA 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 is yet to decide on whether to participate, noting that a stakeholder 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 these 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 recognizing 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.”
