The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission has released a final list of political parties cleared to participate in the August 30 local government elections, confirming 16 parties for the polls.
In a statement issued by RSIEC Chairman, Dr. Michael Odey, on Tuesday, the commission said the names followed the conclusion of its screening exercise held between August 8 and 12 at its Port Harcourt headquarters.
“The commission has completed the screening and hereby notifies the public that sixteen political parties have been cleared to contest the forthcoming local government elections in Rivers State,” Odey announced. “We encourage all stakeholders to visit our headquarters to confirm the list of qualified candidates.”
Besides the dominant Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress, other parties granted approval include the Labour Party, African Action Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Accord Party, Social Democratic Party, Youth Party, Young Progressive Party, Action Alliance, Action Democratic Party, Zenith Party, New Nigerian People’s Party, African Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, and Allied People’s Party.
However, only the PDP and APC featured substantially in the contest for the 23 council chairmanship seats.
Documents obtained by our correspondent show PDP presented three chairmanship candidates: Dr. Gift Worlu (Obio/Akpor), Allwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt City), and Chukwu Ogbugu (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni). All three are known political allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In contrast, 20 of the APC’s 23 candidates—many of them Wike loyalists who previously held council seats during his tenure as governor—made the cleared list. They include Confidence Deko (Gokana), Dr. Chidi Lloyd (Emohua), Obari Ollormate (Eleme), Akuro Tobins (Okrika), and Dr. Thomas Bari-ara, among others.
“Our duty is to provide a level playing field,” Odey said in an interactive session with civil society organisations. “Credible elections require support from everyone—security agencies, the media, civil society, and most importantly the people.”
He urged stakeholders to “work together to make the August 30 election a model of democratic excellence.”
The poll, overseen by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), comes weeks before the expiration of the six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu and the expected return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The Supreme Court had earlier nullified the Fubara-conducted council elections, which were won by his loyalists, paving the way for RSIEC to organise fresh polls.