Drama has intensified in Rivers State’s political landscape as the Emeka Bekee-led All Progressives Congress (APC) officially entered the August 30 local council elections, unveiling campaign posters featuring President Bola Tinubu, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and Bekee. The posters appeared across parts of the state and circulated widely on social media.
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This development follows the Tony Okocha-led APC faction, which had flagged off its council election campaigns in Port Harcourt over the weekend after signalling readiness on July 29, 2025, to participate in the polls.
The Bekee faction, however, raised questions about the legitimacy of the elections, challenging the authority of the State’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), to conduct the polls. The group argued that the sole administrator lacks the legal mandate to organise local council elections and highlighted the state government’s alleged failure to adhere to the rule of law, leaving uncertainty over the faction’s participation.
Commenting on the faction’s involvement, APC spokesman Darlington Nwauju said, “We are contesting and that’s the much we can say.” When asked about the emergence of candidates, he clarified, “There are no congresses for the emergence of candidates who fly party flags. APC Constitution spells out how candidates must emerge, and we followed our party Constitution.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) released the list of candidates who successfully cleared the screening exercise for the local council elections. The exercise was held at the commission’s headquarters along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, from August 8 to August 12, in line with the revised election timetable.
Beyond the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC, other parties cleared to participate include the Labour Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Zenith Party, Accord Party, African Action Congress, Action People’s Party, Social Democratic Party, Action Alliance, Youth Party, Young Progressive Party, Action Democratic Party, New Nigerian People’s Party, African Democratic Party, National Rescue Movement, and Allied People’s Party.
From the RSIEC list, the PDP fielded three chairmanship candidates: Dr. Gift Worlu for Obio/Akpor LGA, Allwell Ihunda for Port Harcourt City LGA, and Chukwu Ogbugu for Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA. In contrast, the APC presented 20 chairmanship candidates across the state’s 23 LGAs, including Confidence Deko for Gokana LGA, Dr. Chidi Lloyd for Emohua LGA, Obari Ollormate for Eleme LGA, Akuro Tobins for Okrika LGA, and Dr. Thomas Bari-ara. Many of the APC candidates are considered loyalists of Governor Nyesom Wike and previously served as LGA chairmen during his tenure.
The Labour Party and 14 other parties did not field candidates for all chairmanship and councillorship positions across the 23 LGAs.
RSIEC Chairman Dr. Michael Odey urged political parties and candidates to check the commission’s headquarters for the posted names. Speaking at an interactive session with civil society organisations, he emphasised collaboration with stakeholders to ensure a credible election.
“We want to assure you that RSIEC will provide a level playing field for everyone. We welcome constructive feedback from civil society as we fine-tune our preparations,” Odey said. “Credible elections are not the responsibility of the commission alone; they require collective support from election management bodies, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media, and ultimately the people themselves. Together, let us make the August 30 elections a model of democratic excellence for our people.”
The local council elections, supervised by Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, come less than a month before the conclusion of the six-month emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu and the expected resumption of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The Supreme Court had previously nullified the local government polls conducted under Fubara, which had placed his loyalists in control of the councils.
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