The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has condemned the recently concluded local government elections in Rivers State, describing the exercise as illegal, unconstitutional, and a mockery of democracy.
While issuing a statement in Port Harcourt today, 2nd September, 2025, the state party Chairman, Leader Sampson, said ADC boycotted the August 30 polls because it considered the process illegitimate.
The party accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of orchestrating the elections to impose his loyalists as council chairmen.
“This so-called election is nothing more than an attempt by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to impose his handpicked candidates on the people of Rivers State. We reject this desperate act of political manipulation,” Sampson declared.
The ADC argued that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) could not have legitimately conducted polls across the 23 LGAs when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) earlier failed to hold a single bye-election in the state, citing security challenges.
The party vowed to challenge the outcome in court, insisting that voter apathy was proof of public rejection of the exercise.
Sampson also faulted President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of parts of the Constitution during the process, calling it a dangerous precedent.
However,, the Rivers APC was declared winner in 20 out of 23 LGAs, while the PDP secured the remaining three, according to RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey.
The ADC urged Rivers people and Nigerians to resist what it described as a brazen subversion of democracy, pledging to pursue justice until the “soul of Rivers State” is restored.
