The national leadership of the Inter-Party Advisory Council has directed all registered political parties in Nigeria to boycott the August 30 local government elections scheduled to be held in Rivers State.
The directive was contained in a letter dated August 1, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr Michael Odey.
The letter was jointly signed by IPAC National Chairman, Dr Yusuf Dantalle, and National Secretary, Mr Maxwell Mgbudem.
According to IPAC, the conduct of the council elections under the current political arrangement in Rivers State, which is under a state of emergency, would amount to a “mockery of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.”
The council argued that the RSIEC, as currently constituted, is illegal and lacks the constitutional authority to organise any election in the state, citing that the power to appoint members of the electoral commission resides solely with the state governor, subject to confirmation by the House of Assembly.
“It is in pursuit of these shared objectives of IPAC that we write to you concerning the illegality and unconstitutionality of the proposed Rivers State Council (Local Government Area and Councillorship) Elections scheduled to hold on the 30th of August, 2025.
“We wish to state most emphatically that the process of conducting the Rivers State Council Elections during this period of emergency rule in the State is to caricature Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and its institutions,” the letter read in part.
The advisory council recalled that President Bola Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to persistent political instability, security challenges, and alleged constitutional breaches.
The President’s proclamation led to the suspension of all democratically elected institutions in the state, except the judiciary.
IPAC said the appointment of the Sole Administrator, retired Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, was to stabilise the state and not to oversee elections or further inflame tensions.
“There is no gainsaying that the state of emergency was declared to contain the persistent political crises and restore peace and order in Rivers State, which is the paramount responsibility of the Sole Administrator and not to go ahead with conducting democratic elections, which in itself could brew further political crises,” the statement added.
Describing the proposed elections as “illegal and unconstitutional,” the council warned that proceeding with the exercise without first restoring democratic governance would undermine the rule of law and Nigeria’s democratic values.
The letter continued, “It is imperative to note that your Commission as presently constituted lacks the legitimate authority to conduct any election in Rivers State, as the only constitutionally recognised authority to appoint members of the State Electoral Commission is the Governor and confirmed by the State House of Assembly, all being democratically elected institutions.
“It is on the strength of the above and many more unconstitutional and illegal steps taken by the Sole Administrator that IPAC as a body geared towards entrenching deep rooted democratic norms in our society, do vehemently condemn in its entirety the illegal process of conducting Council Elections in Rivers State without at first lifting and restoring democratic institutions in the State.
“The Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, arising from its General Assembly meeting, strongly wishes to state most unambiguously that we dissociate ourselves from this illegitimate exercise, which threatens our democratic norms and rule of law.”
The council further declared, “On this note, IPAC hereby directs all lovers of democracy in Rivers State, especially all political parties, to desist from participating in the Rivers State Council election slated to hold on 30th August, 2025.
IPAC further warned that it would explore other legitimate means to express its grievances if the electoral commission disregards the letter.
“The Inter-Party Advisory Council will explore other legitimate means to ventilate our grievances and concerns should you ignore and disregard this patriotic and reasonable approach towards calling you to order and restoring sanity in the State,” the letter also read.
Among those copied in the letter were President Bola Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu; and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.(Punch)
