The All Progressives Congress (APC) has secured a commanding victory in the Rivers State local government elections, clinching 20 out of 23 chairmanship seats in Saturday’s polls, while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won only three councils.

Notably, the PDP lost Opobo-Nkoro, the home local government of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to the opposition. The results were officially announced on Sunday by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Chairman, Dr. Michael Odey, at the commission’s headquarters along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

According to RSIEC, APC also dominated the councillorship elections, winning seats in 20 councils, with the PDP securing three. Certificates of return are scheduled to be presented to the winners on Monday, September 1.

The polls were reportedly marked by low voter turnout, as many residents stayed away from polling units across the state.

Official Results Declared by RSIEC:

  • Abua-Odual – APC (Ofori Owoalabi) – 28,755 votes
  • Ahoada East – APC (Solomon Achoma) – 54,509 votes
  • Ahoada West – APC (Eugene Epelle) – 84,125 votes
  • Akuku-Toru – APC (Bob Fubara) – 63,593 votes
  • Andoni – APC (Lucky Promise) – 126,181 votes
  • Asari-Toru – APC (George Onegiyeofori) – 56,383 votes
  • Bonny – APC (Abinye Blessing Pepple) – 13,543 votes
  • Degema – APC (Michael John Williams) – 61,536 votes
  • Eleme – APC (Obarilomate Ollor) – 77,452 votes
  • Emohua – APC (Chidi Lloyd) – 114,380 votes
  • Etche – APC (Njoku Boniface) – 100,649 votes
  • Gokana – APC (Dekor Confidence) – 96,478 votes
  • Ikwerre – APC (Charles Wobodo) – 62,746 votes
  • Khana – APC (Bariere Thomas) – 156,027 votes
  • Obio-Akpor – PDP (Gift Worlu) – 328,823 votes
  • Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni (ONELGA) – PDP (Shedrack Ogbogu) – 51,051 votes
  • Ogu-Bolo – APC (Vincent Nemioboka) – 36,374 votes
  • Okrika – APC (Akuro Tobin) – 32,285 votes
  • Omuma – APC (Obasi Uchechukwu) – 38,530 votes
  • Opobo-Nkoro – APC (Jame A. Jame) – 38,822 votes
  • Oyigbo – APC (Okechukwu Akara) – 101,495 votes
  • Port Harcourt City (PHALGA) – PDP (Allwell Ihunda) – 235,054 votes
  • Tai – APC (Mbakpone Okpe) – 70,080 votes

This result marks the first time since the return of democracy in 1999 that the APC has gained such dominance in Rivers State, signaling shift in the political landscape of the oil-rich state.

The elections were conducted under the supervision of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Sole Administrator of Rivers State following a six-month state of emergency declared on March 18, 2025. Ibas, tasked with restoring order, oversaw the polls despite legal and political challenges, including objections from some civil society groups and factions of the APC and PDP, who questioned the legitimacy of conducting elections during an emergency. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously cited the emergency as a reason for not conducting by-elections in Rivers, but Ibas and RSIEC proceeded with the local polls to align with a Supreme Court ruling mandating democratic local governance, which faulted the breach of notice of time guidelines.

Dr. Michael Odey, a retired INEC official appointed RSIEC Chairman despite initial controversy over his Cross River origin, assured stakeholders of a free, fair, and credible process. His meeting with political parties, traditional rulers, and civil society on August 25, 2025, facilitated preparations, with the National Assembly approving his appointment after tensions eased. The elections, held across 319 wards and 6,366 polling units, saw 18 of 19 registered political parties participate, with the PDP fielding only three chairmanship candidates compared to the APC’s 20.

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