By Muhammad Mamman
With the 2027 general elections looming, the political chessboard in Rivers State is already ablaze with strategic manoeuvres to ensure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has set 30 August 2025 as the date for the local government elections, igniting a fierce battle for control of the state’s political structure.
The stage was set in July when RSIEC, under its controversial new chairman, Dr. Michael Odey, announced the rescheduling of the polls from 9 August to 30 August. Odey, whose appointment sparked outrage, including criticism from the National Assembly, justified the shift by citing Section 13(5) of the RSIEC Law, which allows date changes to prevent potential breaches of peace or emergencies. “By the powers vested in the Commission, I confirm the postponement and approve Saturday, 30 August 2025, for the chairmanship and councillorship elections across all 23 local government areas,” Odey declared at a stakeholders’ meeting on 5 March.
This follows the annulment of the 5 October 2024 elections, conducted under then-Governor Siminalayi Fubara before his suspension amid a state of emergency declared on 18 March. Loyalists of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike boycotted the October polls, citing constitutional breaches, including RSIEC’s failure to provide the mandatory 90-day notice for political parties to mobilise.
Factional Feuds and Political Gambits
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State is a house divided. Chief Emeka Beke, claiming leadership of the “authentic” APC, recently met with the party’s new national chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, to assert his authority until his tenure ends in October. Meanwhile, Wike’s ally, Chief Tony Okocha, enjoys robust support from Abuja, with both factions submitting rival candidate lists for the upcoming elections. The outcome of this internal power struggle remains uncertain.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is equally fractured. Chief Aaron Chukwuma, a Wike loyalist, and Hon Robinson Ewor, aligned with Fubara, are locked in a battle for the PDP chairmanship. A Rivers State High Court ruling nullified congresses held in July and August 2024, reinstating Ewor, but Wike’s camp refuses to recognise his leadership, plunging the party into deeper chaos.
In a surprising twist, some PDP members were spotted with APC nomination forms during recent primaries, hinting at defections. Of the 23 chairmanship seats, eight are reportedly allocated to the PDP, with the APC securing 15. Many of these candidates are said to be Wike’s allies, sidelined or sacked by Fubara, now resurfacing as key players.
Fubara’s Camp in Disarray
Fubara’s loyalists are reeling, with one anonymous supporter lamenting, “He’s thrown us under the bus.” Sources claim Fubara rejected an offer to nominate three PDP candidates, with only a former Opobo Nkoro chairman, close to Fubara, taking a slot—potentially signalling the suspended governor’s looming defection to the APC. Speculation is rife, especially as a peace agreement allegedly requires Fubara to join the ruling party.
The Beke-led APC faction has raised concerns over RSIEC’s conduct, particularly its failure to update the voters’ register or adhere to the 90-day notice period. Darlington Nwauju, the faction’s publicity secretary, accused RSIEC of being stacked with “card-carrying members of known political parties,” casting doubt on the election’s integrity. Despite this, he affirmed the APC’s resolve to participate, citing widespread support across all 23 local government areas.
Wike’s Masterplan for Tinubu
Wike, unapologetic in his ambition, has vowed to deliver Rivers State for Tinubu in 2027. During a recent media chat in Abuja, he boldly declared he would lead the President’s campaign in the state. In 2023, as governor, Wike defied his party to secure Tinubu’s victory over PDP’s Atiku Abubakar. With the APC and PDP now firmly under his influence, Wike appears to have cleared the path for Tinubu’s re-election bid.
At the APC’s campaign rally launch, Chief Victor Giadom, South-South National Vice Chairman, and Tony Okocha exuded confidence, proclaiming, “On 30 August, we won’t just test the waters—we’ll sweep all 23 LGAs and 319 wards.”
A State in Flux
The Sole Administrator’s recent appointments to eight state boards, coupled with a backdated gazette to legitimise RSIEC’s restructuring, have raised eyebrows. Critics, including a legal practitioner who spoke anonymously due to ongoing litigation, condemned these moves, questioning Fubara’s role upon his potential return as governor. “If there’s peace between Fubara and Wike, why is the governor absent from the electoral process?” the lawyer asked.
