The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has issued a strong condemnation of the planned local government elections in Rivers State, describing the process as “unconstitutional, illegal, and a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic order.”
According to RULAAC, the elections scheduled for August 30, 2025, under the authority of the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), violate key provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law of 2018. The organization asserts that the Sole Administrator lacks the legal mandate to appoint the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) or oversee any electoral process.
RULAAC emphasized that Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution guarantees a system of local government by democratically elected councils. The appointment of a Sole Administrator and the suspension of the State House of Assembly undermine this constitutional guarantee and render any election conducted under such circumstances null and void.
“The conduct of local government elections under a military-style administrator is not only a breach of constitutional provisions but a dangerous precedent that threatens the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy,” said a spokesperson for RULAAC. “We call on the judiciary, civil society, and the international community to reject this unlawful process and demand a return to democratic governance in Rivers State.”
RULAAC has indicated its intention to support legal action challenging the legitimacy of the elections. The organization is working with constitutional lawyers and rights advocates to ensure that the rule of law prevails and that the rights of Rivers citizens to elect their local leaders are protected.