Tamunotonye Tobins, the commissioner in charge of media and civic education at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), said preparation for the elections is on course.
“RSIEC has obtained the updated register of voters for Rivers state, along with the current list of registered political parties in the country,” NAN quoted Tobins to have said.
He noted that the documents were transmitted to RSIEC by the electoral commission in a letter marked INEC/RV/SVR/498/155.
“The commission reassures the people of Rivers state of RSIEC’s commitment to conducting credible, free, and fair elections on Saturday, August 9,” he said.
BACKGROUND
On October 5, 2024, the RSIEC conducted elections in 23 LGAs in Rivers state.
The Action People’s Party (APP) secured victory in 22 LGAs, while the Action Alliance (AA) won in one.
The buildup to the LGA poll was marked by controversy with conflicting court orders and pushback from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
On September 4, a high court in Rivers state held that RSIEC could conduct the LGA election using the 2023 voter register.
On September 30, a federal high court in Abuja barred INEC from releasing the voter register to RSIEC.
The court also restrained the inspector-general of police (IGP) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the elections.
Despite the federal high court ruling and the withdrawal of security personnel, the elections were held.
On February 28, the supreme court nullified the elections.
A five-member panel of the apex court ruled in favour of an appeal filed by the APC.
In its lead judgment delivered by Jamilu Tukur, the apex court held that there was no evidence to show that the conditions set out in section 150 (3) of the Electoral Act had been met before the electoral umpire conducted the polls.
Subsequently, the RSIEC announced August 9, 2025, for the conduct of fresh LGA elections in the state.
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