The outcome of the August 30 Local Government elections in Rivers State has continued to generate sharp reactions, with political parties, civil society organizations, and election observers offering conflicting assessments of the exercise. While some describe it as a sham process designed to entrench political structures, others hail it as one of the most peaceful and credible polls in recent years.
The spokesperson of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC) in Rivers State, Luckyman Igila, alleged that the polls were merely a ploy by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, to reclaim his political influence in the state.
“The FCT Minister has gotten back his structure through the back door. It is evident everywhere that people did not come out to vote because Rivers people do not know who is at the helm of affairs in Rivers State. Elections were conducted manually where people just picked up the booklet, thumb-printed serially, and dropped it inside. That is not an election,” Egela told our reporter.
He added that the irregularities had strengthened his party’s legal challenge.
“We are challenging the process in court. They have just given us fresh evidence that we will use to crush them in court. Even though we don’t fully trust the judiciary these days, we believe they will purge themselves and do the right thing.”
The convener of the Rivers Emancipation Movement, Zoe Tamunotonye, also dismissed the exercise, describing it as a “managed selection process.”
“The process was neither democratic nor credible. RESEC activities failed every test of transparency, fairness, and accountability. No credible voter turnout was recorded, results were stage-managed, and only pre-arranged winners were announced without details of votes cast,” Tamunotonye said.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Civil Liberty Organisation in Rivers State, Sunny Dada, warned that the election could be a rehearsal for what might happen in the 2027 general elections.
“Rivers State has become a lab where undemocratic practices are tested. If it worked here, it might be repeated nationwide in 2027. Citizens must not keep quiet. We must challenge this legally; otherwise, democracy risks being buried in this country,” he cautioned.
However, not all observers share this bleak outlook. Some Civil Society groups and independent monitors argue that the polls reflected maturity and a commitment to grassroots democracy.
The convener of the Rivers Peace Initiative, Obinna Ebogidi, praised the peaceful conduct of the election.
“The election itself was a huge win for Rivers State and its people. Despite our divisions, we have reached a point of consensus. The peaceful atmosphere shows Rivers people are committed to democracy,” he said.
Nwambu Gabriel, Director-General of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, also commended the exercise, noting the absence of major electoral malpractices.
“There was no ballot box snatching, no thuggery, no vote buying across the 23 LGAs. For once, we saw an election conducted without violence or intimidation,” Gabriel noted, adding that the APC’s success in winning 20 chairmanship seats further demonstrated the impartiality of the electoral commission.
In the same vein, Green Isaac, Executive Director of Relief International Africa (RIA), commended the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RESEC) for what he described as “transparent preparation and execution.”
“From the beginning of the process to election day, RESEC showed legitimacy and transparency. Their programs and conduct reflected credibility,” Isaac maintained.
As debates rage over the credibility of the August 30 polls, one thing is clear: the Rivers State Local Government election has reopened conversations about Nigeria’s electoral integrity and the challenges facing democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
