Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has announced that Local Government elections in the state are now scheduled for August 30, 2025.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision was made public by RSIEC Chairman Michael Odey during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
During the meeting, the commission also introduced a revised timetable and set of guidelines for the upcoming elections.
Odey explained that the rescheduling was necessary due to a state of emergency previously declared in Rivers State, which had disrupted the RSIEC’s initial preparations for the elections.
He noted that the commission conducted a thorough review of the circumstances and determined that adjustments to the electoral calendar were essential to accommodate the current situation.
“We are committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election, and this adjustment is in the interest of all stakeholders,” Odey said.
According to him, the elections will begin with the expression of interest by political parties scheduled to take place from Monday, July 28 to Wednesday, July 30.
He said political parties are expected to submit the venue, date, and time for their primaries between Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1, while the party primaries will hold on Saturday, August 2.
The submission of names of candidates who emerged from the primaries is fixed for the period between August 2 and 4.
The commission will issue nomination forms to chairmanship and councillorship candidates on August 5 and 6.
The names of all candidates will be published on August 23, while electoral campaigns will end by midnight on August 28.
The main election into the local government councils will be conducted on August 30, while run-off for the chairmanship elections, where necessary, has been slated for September 6.
The announcement comes months after the supreme court voided the previous council elections held in October 2024, citing inconsistencies with the Electoral Act.
The apex court ruled that RSIEC failed to follow due process, leading to the nullification of the outcome.
With the new date, political activities are expected to resume across the state’s 23 LGAs as parties prepare for the polls.
