THE Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), the umbrella body of all registered political parties in the country, has categorically rejected the proposed Local Government Area (LGA) and Councillorship elections scheduled to hold in Rivers State on August 30, 2025.
In a formal letter addressed to the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), IPAC described the planned elections as “illegal, unconstitutional, and a direct affront to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy,” citing the subsisting state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
According to the letter jointly signed by IPAC National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf M. Dantalle, and National Secretary, Barr. Maxwell Mgbudem, the ongoing emergency rule had suspended all democratically elected institutions in the state, save for the judiciary. The council argued that holding elections under such circumstances would undermine democratic norms and further destabilize the already fragile political environment.
“It is a common knowledge that President Tinubu… proclaimed a state of emergency in Rivers State… and suspended all democratically elected institutions,” the letter read.
“The plan to conduct elections under these conditions is a caricature of constitutional democracy.”
IPAC further questioned the legal authority of the RSIEC as currently constituted, pointing out that the only constitutionally valid method of appointing commission members is through nomination by a democratically elected governor and confirmation by the state House of Assembly, both of which remain suspended under emergency rule.
“Your commission, as presently constituted, lacks the legitimate authority to conduct any election in Rivers State,” the council said.
“We vehemently condemn the illegal process of conducting council elections without restoring democratic institutions.”
The advisory body has instructed all political parties and democratic actors in Rivers State to boycott the polls and warned that it would pursue other lawful means of redress if the electoral body proceeds with the election.
The letter was also copied to key national figures and institutions, including President Tinubu, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the INEC Chairman, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
