The Inter Party Advisory Council has directed all political parties under its platform to shun the August 30, 2025 local government elections in Rivers State.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 13, signed by its National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, IPAC described the planned election as “illegal, unconstitutional and a mockery of our emerging democracy. It’s unacceptable and should be rejected by all lovers of constitutional governance in Nigeria.”
Dr Dantalle insisted that only an elected governor has the constitutional authority to organise such elections, stressing that the state of emergency in Rivers was declared to resolve political crises and restore order, not to conduct polls.
“The Sole Administrator has no constitutional mandate to conduct a democratic election as if the nation is under a military regime.
“Only an elected governor has the constitutional power to conduct a local government election in collaboration with the State House of Assembly,” he stated.
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He added, “The Sole Administrator cannot arrogate to himself powers in flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The Sole Administrator is not an Emperor with absolute power to rule as he pleases.”
IPAC condemned what it called the use of “fake State Chairmen” to endorse the polls, calling it desperation.
It noted that a letter dated August 1, 2025, had been sent to the Sole Administrator, with copies to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the INEC Chairman, the DSS Director General and the Inspector General of Police, warning against undermining Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
The council reaffirmed its commitment to deepening democracy, maintaining political stability and safeguarding Nigerians’ well-being.
“Council will resist any attempt to undermine our hard earned democracy by anti-democratic and reactionary forces.
“We urge citizens, patriots, men and women of goodwill to join us in deepening our democracy as well as in condemning this obvious hijack of the political system by anti-democratic forces,” the statement added.