The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), a coalition of 30 civil society and non-governmental organizations accredited to observe the August 30, 2025 Rivers State Local Government Elections, has released its official report, declaring the polls transparent, free, and fair.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel Chibuzor who spoke on behalf of the coalition highlighted the extraordinary circumstances under which the elections were conducted, following the Supreme Court’s nullification of the previous poll and the subsequent declaration of a state of emergency in the state. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), under the leadership of Chairman Dr. Michael Odey, was mandated to conduct fresh elections within 30 days, covering 6,866 polling units, 319 wards, and 23 local government areas.
Despite the tight timeframe, CCLCA commended RSIEC for what it described as a “Herculean but exemplary” effort, noting that the commission demonstrated professionalism and efficiency unprecedented in Nigeria’s electoral history.
Key Observations
* Campaigns by the major parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – were strictly issue-based, with no cases of pre-election violence or intimidation recorded.
* Election materials were distributed efficiently across all local government areas, including difficult riverine terrains.
* Voting commenced early in most polling units, with accreditation and voting processes described as orderly.
* Contrary to initial fears of voter apathy, turnout improved significantly as the day progressed.
* Observers reported a complete absence of electoral malpractices such as ballot box snatching, thuggery, or vote buying – a rare occurrence in recent Nigerian elections.
* All ad-hoc staff were fully paid within one week of the election, a departure from past practices that often led to protests.
* Security agencies were praised for their professionalism and non-intrusive conduct throughout the process.
Election Outcome
The election produced a surprising result, with the opposition APC winning 20 chairmanship seats while the ruling PDP secured just three. According to the coalition, the outcome reflected the transparency of the process and showed that incumbency did not influence the results.
Recommendations
The CCLCA urged that the Rivers experience be adopted as a national model for credible electoral management in Nigeria, stressing that RSIEC’s approach should serve as a benchmark for future elections.
“The August 30 Rivers State Local Government Elections were free, fair, credible, and consistent with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” said Dr. Nwambu Gabriel Chibuzor, who signed the report on behalf of the coalition.
