The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has commenced preparations for fresh local government elections in the state, months after the Supreme Court nullified the previous exercise, Dockaysworld reports.
In a public notice issued by the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Michael Ekpali Odey, RSIEC has summoned all relevant stakeholders to a general meeting scheduled to take place on Monday, July 28, 2025.
The meeting will hold at the Commission’s headquarters located at 239–243 Aba Road, Port Harcourt, and is expected to begin at exactly 2:00 p.m.
Stakeholders expected at the meeting include political party leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, religious and professional bodies, media organisations, civil society groups, non-governmental organisations, community-based associations, and members of the electorate.
Dr. Odey stated that the major highlight of the gathering will be the official release of a revised timetable and fresh guidelines for the conduct of the 2025 local government polls.
This development comes in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling on February 28, 2025, which nullified the local government elections held by RSIEC on October 5, 2024. The court held that the Commission failed to comply with key provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, particularly Section 150(3), which mandates a 90-day notice to stakeholders and the proper release of the voters register. The All Progressives Congress (APC) had taken the commission to court over the conduct of the polls, citing serious procedural breaches.
Before the Supreme Court ruling, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Peter Lifu had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters register and barred security agencies from providing cover for the election, pending full compliance with electoral guidelines. Though the Court of Appeal later vacated that order on jurisdictional grounds, the apex court reinstated the initial decision and declared the entire election exercise invalid. Consequently, all chairmen elected across the 23 local government areas were removed from office.
Meanwhile, on March 18, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the state following months of crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike. The move led to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the entire State House of Assembly. Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed Sole Administrator to manage the affairs of the state during the emergency period.
The Sole Administrator later dissolved the former leadership of RSIEC and made fresh appointments.
