ADC, Amaechi’s APC Faction Boycott Rivers LG Poll, Accuse RSIEC of Bias and Illegality

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced it will not participate in the upcoming local government elections in Rivers State, scheduled for August 30, 2025, denouncing the entire process as a sham.

Addressing the media in Port Harcourt over the weekend, the ADC’s State Publicity Secretary, Luckyman Egila, condemned the conduct of the poll, claiming that the state is under what he termed “martial law.” He argued that the administrator currently overseeing the state’s affairs, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), lacks the constitutional mandate to organise elections.

Egila said, “The ADC, Rivers State chapter, will not be participating in the selection process being passed off as an election. Rivers State is under emergency rule, and the administrator — who isn’t even from the state — cannot conduct credible elections on behalf of its people. We consider the process illegitimate and will not lend it our credibility.”

In a related development, the Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also raised objections to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), accusing it of breaching established electoral protocols and ignoring a subsisting court order.

Darlington Nwauju, Publicity Secretary of the Emeka Beke-led APC faction, criticised RSIEC for failing to consult with their legally recognised leadership. He pointed out that their candidates had previously emerged under the commission chaired by retired Justice Adolphus Enebeli before it was replaced.

“RSIEC is operating outside the law by ignoring the High Court’s validation of Emeka Beke’s leadership. We can’t engage in an election process when the commission is cherry-picking rules and avoiding engagement with legitimate party stakeholders,” Nwauju said.

He further called on RSIEC to await the conclusion of the nationwide voter registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as required by the Supreme Court judgment delivered in February, which mandates an updated voters’ register before any elections are held.

Nwauju stated, “Holding elections without an updated register disenfranchises thousands of eligible voters. Conducting registration mid-election is irregular and undermines the credibility of the process.”

However, in contrast, the Tony Okocha-led faction of the APC expressed full readiness to participate in the polls. The faction’s Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, said the party was satisfied with RSIEC’s guidelines and that its candidates had already emerged.

“We have no issues with the process so far. RSIEC has done a good job, and we are fully participating. Our campaigns will be flagged off this Thursday,” Ikenga confirmed.