Rivers holds LG election August 30

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday, August 30, 2025, for the local government election in the state.

This shows a shift in the date initially set by the commission, then headed by Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), who had earlier fixed August 9, 2025, before Governor Siminalayi Fubara was suspended following the declaration of an emergency rule in the state.

The current RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey, made the announcement during the unveiling of the revised timetable for the election in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Monday.

Odey explained that the decision to postpone the election was informed by the prevailing circumstances in the state, including constitutional provisions that empower the commission to reschedule elections in situations of crisis or potential unrest.

“You can recall that a general stakeholders meeting was convened by the sixth commission on Wednesday, 5th March 2025, during which August 9th 2025 was proclaimed as a date of local government election in Rivers State prior to the advent of the emergency rule.

“Here now, the seventh commission of RSIEC has taken proper cognisance of Section 13 Sub 5, of the RSIEC Law, which provides thus; that when the commission appoints a date for holding an election and there is a reason to believe that a serious breach of peace is likely to occur if the election holds on that date, or it is impossible to conduct the election as a result of natural disaster or any other emergency, the commission may postpone the election provided that the reason for the postponement is cogent and verifiable,” he stated.

Odey continued, “Therefore, by the powers vested upon the commission by this provision, I hereby announce the postponement of the local government council elections earlier fixed to hold on Saturday, 9th August 2025, for a very obvious and incontrovertible reason.