Atiku Condemns Rivers Council Election Being Planned By Sole Administrator, Warns Of Constitutional Abuse
Atiku Condemns Rivers Council Election Being Planned By Sole Administrator, Warns Of Constitutional Abuse
He described the move as not in the interest of the country.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has joined different stakeholders in condemning the planned conduct of local government elections in Rivers State by Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok-Ete (Rtd).
He described the move as not in the interest of the country.
The elections are scheduled for August 30.
Atiku wrote, “It is in one’s interest to help put out the fire in your neighbour’s house to safeguard your house being torched.”
“I agree that what is playing out in Rivers State, with an illegal sole administrator, unknown to our Constitution, conducting council elections, has implications for the rest of the country. I join other men and women of goodwill to condemn this absurdity unequivocally.”
His comments come just as Atedo Peterside also expressed concerns over the conduct of the local government elections.
“I joined some like-minded Rivers Elders to put out this advert (image attached). Methinks ’tis not about Rivers State alone. ’Tis more about FG ensuring that they do not inadvertently make nonsense of democracy in Nigeria, whilst using Rivers State as a test case. Enough is enough; this Sole Administrator with no mandate.”
Earlier, some stakeholders in Rivers State issued a strong warning to President Bola Tinubu, describing the planned local government council elections in the state as a “serious threat to democracy” and a “brazen flouting” of Nigeria’s constitution.
In a joint statement, the signatories — including former deputy governor Engr. Tele Ikuru, former governor Celestine Omehia, and other political leaders and civil society advocates — said:
“We, the undersigned stakeholders and advocates for democratic principles in Rivers State, express deep concern over the ongoing violation of constitutional governance and due process in the unlawful attempt to hold Local Government Council elections in the State.”
The group alleged that the elections, scheduled for August 30, 2025, are being “orchestrated by a ‘Sole Administrator’ with no constitutional mandate and allegedly imposed by the Federal Government,” warning that the move “threatens the very foundations of our federal system, the rule of law, and the peace of Rivers State.”
According to them, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) is not legally constituted, as required by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law, 2018, and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“The combined interpretation of the specified sections of the RSIEC Law alongside Section 7(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) establishes that only the elected Governor, upon confirmation by the Rivers State House of Assembly, is empowered to appoint the Chairman and members of RSIEC. Any appointment process outside this constitutional procedure is invalid and unconstitutional.”
The stakeholders also accused the RSIEC of breaching the mandatory 90-day notice period for elections as stipulated in Section 20 of the RSIEC Law.
“With no formal notification for candidate nominations or polling timetables — and an election date of August 30, 2025, announced on short notice — this process bears a resemblance to the 2024 polls, which the Supreme Court annulled due to procedural failures.”
They further warned that ongoing court cases challenging the legality of the Sole Administrator’s appointment and the existence of RSIEC make the electoral process sub judice.
“Rivers State has been plunged into a constitutional crisis and a de facto state of emergency due to the federal suspension of its executive and legislative branches. If INEC deems by-elections untenable under such conditions, how can local government polls — unrelated to any genuine emergency — be justified?”
The group insisted that Section 7(1) of the Constitution grants states exclusive authority to conduct local council elections, stressing that “a federally appointed agent — lacking any legal foundation — cannot lawfully step into this role.”
They cited court precedents, including Adewumi v. Plastex Ltd. and Okafor v. Umeh, to argue that the Sole Administrator’s actions are “ultra vires and void.”
It is in one’s interest to help put out the fire in your neighbour’s house to safeguard against your house being torched. I agree that what is playing out in Rivers State, with an illegal sole administrator, unknown to our constitution, conducting council elections, has… https://t.co/xAekLOP2Bc
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 9, 2025
