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RSIEC approves 16 political parties for August 30 local government elections
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APC fields 20 chairmanship candidates; PDP fields only three
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Civil society urged to collaborate for credible polls ahead of emergency rule exit
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has cleared 16 political parties to contest the August 30 local government elections, following a screening exercise at the commission’s headquarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, between August 8 and 12, 2025.
Dr. Michael Odey, RSIEC Chairman, confirmed the approval, noting that parties including the PDP, APC, Labour Party, APGA, Zenith Party, Accord Party, and others were cleared, while some parties did not field candidates for all chairmanship and councillorship positions across the state’s 23 LGAs.
The PDP presented three chairmanship candidates: Dr. Gift Worlu (Obio/Akpor), Allwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt City), and Chukwu Ogbugu (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), whereas the APC fielded 20 candidates, largely loyalists of Minister Nyesom Wike who previously served as LGA chairmen during his governorship.
Notable APC candidates include Confidence Deko (Gokana LGA), Dr. Chidi Lloyd (Emohua LGA), Obari Ollormate (Eleme LGA), and Akuro Tobins (Okrika LGA).
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Odey called on political parties, candidates, security agencies, and civil society to ensure a free and fair poll, emphasising that credible elections require collective effort and collaboration.
The LG elections, overseen by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), occur ahead of the end of the six-month emergency rule and the expected return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whose loyalists previously dominated nullified LG polls.
