Rivers State LG Elections Postponed to August 30

By Aremu Toyeebaht

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has postponed the state’s local government elections to Saturday, August 30, 2025, citing disruptions caused by the recent state of emergency declared in the region.

The exercise, initially slated for August 9, was rescheduled following a state of emergency declaration, which disrupted earlier plans, according to RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey.

Odey, speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt on Monday, unveiled the updated electoral calendar and guidelines, stressing that the decision was taken to ensure a credible and inclusive process.“The realities on the ground made it necessary to adjust the timetable. Our priority is to deliver free, fair, and peaceful elections,” Odey said.

Under the new schedule, party primaries will now hold between July 31 and August 3, with candidate lists expected by August 4. RSIEC also announced that campaigns officially kick off on August 12, while the recruitment of ad-hoc staff is set for August 16. The final list of cleared candidates will be displayed on August 20.

Stakeholders, including political party representatives, civil society groups, and the media, reviewed the revised timetable and pledged commitment to a peaceful electoral process.

The updated timetable comes amid heightened political activity in Rivers State, as parties gear up for competitive council polls expected to shape grassroots governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.