- Stakeholders Reject Impending Election Under Sole Administatorship
- Insists it is a Violation of the Nigerian Constitution
- Decry Lack of Legitimate RSIEC
A coalition of concerned stakeholders, led by prominent investment banker Atedo Peterside, has issued a strong warning over the impending local government election in Rivers State, describing it as a serious violation of Nigeria’s Constitution and a threat to democratic governance.
In a statement on Friday monitored by Eko Hot Blog, the group condemned the planned polls, arguing that the exercise, organised under a Sole Administrator lacking constitutional authority and reportedly imposed by the federal government, risks undermining the federal system and disturbing peace in the state.
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The statement said,
“We, as stakeholders committed to democratic values in Rivers State, are deeply troubled by the blatant disregard for constitutional provisions and due process in the push to hold local government elections unlawfully.”
One of their main objections centers on the fact that there is currently no legitimate Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) in place.
According to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law (2018), only an elected governor after confirmation by the State House of Assembly can appoint the chairman and members of the commission. The coalition argued that without a properly constituted RSIEC, any election would be legally void.
The group also pointed out that the RSIEC has ignored the law’s requirement to give at least 90 days’ notice before holding elections.
They noted that the election date of August 30 was announced with insufficient notice and no formal schedule for candidate nomination or polling, drawing parallels to the 2024 elections which were annulled by the Supreme Court due to procedural irregularities.
The stakeholders warned that these breaches are not accidental but represent a deliberate assault on due process. They added that such actions threaten the very foundations of the rule of law and constitutional governance in Rivers State.
The statement comes against the backdrop of ongoing legal disputes challenging the legitimacy of the Sole Administrator appointed by the federal government after the declaration of a state of emergency in the state earlier this year.
The move had suspended the elected government and the State House of Assembly, sparking controversy and litigation.
Furthermore, civil society groups and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) have also condemned the planned election, urging political parties and the electorate to boycott the process, describing it as unconstitutional.
The stakeholders are calling on federal authorities, lawmakers, the judiciary, civil society, and the international community to intervene and ensure that constitutional principles are upheld in Rivers State, warning that failure to do so could lead to further instability and erosion of democratic norms.
As the election date nears, the controversy raises serious questions about the future of local governance in Rivers State and the respect for constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
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