Port Harcourt — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Rotimi Amaechi-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have announced they will not participate in the Rivers State local government election scheduled for August 30, 2025, citing constitutional breaches and alleged irregularities in the build-up to the poll.

Speaking at a weekend news briefing in Port Harcourt, ADC state publicity secretary, Luckyman Egila, described the forthcoming exercise as a “charade,” alleging that Rivers State was “under martial law” and that the appointed administrator, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), lacked the constitutional authority to organise elections.

Egila said, “The Administrator that is there now constitutionally does not have the right to conduct elections for Rivers people because he does not represent Rivers people. We don’t know him. So, appointing someone who is not from Rivers State to come and conduct elections for us is absurd. We will not be partaking in the charade they call elections.”

Similarly, Darlington Nwauju, spokesperson for the Emeka Beke-led APC faction recognised by the court, accused the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) of “creating its own rules” and ignoring a subsisting court order validating Beke’s leadership. He said the commission, chaired by Dr. Michael Odey, had not engaged with the faction despite its readiness to field candidates.

Nwauju further urged RSIEC to delay the polls until the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) concludes its ongoing voter registration exercise, citing a February Supreme Court ruling mandating an updated voters’ register before any election.

However, the Chief Tony Okocha-led APC faction declared full readiness to participate. Party publicity secretary, Chibike Ikenga, said all candidates had emerged and campaigns would commence on Thursday.

“Yes, we will be participating. So far, RSIEC has done the right thing, and we don’t have any issues,” Ikenga stated.

The August 30 poll is expected to be a key test for the state’s political climate, with deep divisions among major parties raising questions about the credibility and inclusiveness of the exercise.