The Rivers State electoral commission conducted local government elections in all 23 Rivers State councils on Saturday; while the process was peaceful, voter turnout was low. Several residents engaged in other activities while youths were seen playing football across the State capital. Surprisingly, the opposition All Progressives Congress won the majority of the Chairmanship positions.

The election was held across 6,866 polling units. Some locations started late due to the delayed delivery of electoral materials. Like recent elections in the country, the polls experienced low voter turnout, but this time, there was minimal contest by the political parties. Some electoral observers had predicted this outcome, attributing it to controversy surrounding the conduct of the local elections.

The controversy is linked to the suspension of state officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Ngozi Odu, all elected members of the state House of Assembly, and President Bola Tinubu, for six months.

During the primaries, reports indicated that the parties assigned control of the LGAs: the PDP received three, including the Minister’s local government, while the APC received 20. All candidates remain strongly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.

This was achieved after suspended Governor Sim Fubara agreed to return control to his godfather as a condition for peace and reinstatement following the state of emergency. Fubara’s supporters were told to stand down since he had negotiated with his estranged godfather, who insisted on regaining the structure before any progress or Fubara’s return.

After Fubara and his group moved to the APP and gained control of the LGA structure during the October 2024 LGA election, conditions were set for the Wike group—which was split between PDP and APC—to allocate the LGAs.

The primaries were used to reconcile the lists. The election on Saturday, August 30, 2025, served to endorse the agreed arrangements.

The process was efficient, but turnout was low since the outcomes in each LGA were already expected and uncontested. Several units finished by noon. The election body only attempted to appear active.

The All Progressives Congress won 20 of the 23 local governments in the Rivers State elections held on Saturday, 30th, 2025, while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party took the remaining three.

Dr. Michael Odey, Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, announced at the commission’s Port Harcourt headquarters that certificates of return will be issued to elected candidates on Monday, September 1, 2025.

For the first time since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, an opposition party has won in Rivers State. The local election results showed PDP lost Opobo-Nkoro LGA—Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s area—to APC.

Presented below is the complete list of all elected chairpersons and their vice chairpersons in the Rivers State local government elections.

Breakdown of the winners

Abua/Odual LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Ofori Owolabi

Votes: 28755

Vice Chairman Elect: Abunu Victoria

Ahoada East – APC

Chairman elect: Solomon Achoma

Votes: 54,509

Vice Chairman elect: Florence Ndukwu

Ahoada West – APC

Chairman Elect: Eugene Ebele Cheta

Votes: 84125

Vice Chairman elect: Josephine Uba

Toru: APC

Chairman Elect: Bob Fubarab A.

Votes: 63593

 Chairman elect: Wariagbani George

Andoni- APC

Chairman Elect: Otuo Loveday Promise

Votes: 126,181

Vice Chairman elect: Ezekiel Raphael Abigbani

Asari Toru LGA- APC

Chairman Elect: George Onengiyeofori

Votes: 56383

Chairman elect: Deborah Amos Bobmanuel

Bonny LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Pepple Abinye Blessing

Votes: 30543

Vice Chairman elect: Ibimieye Alagbari

Degema LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Michael George Williams

Votes: 61536

Vice Chairman elect: Harry Maureen

Eleme LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Obarilomate Ollor

Votes: 77452

Vice Chairman elect: Beauty Eke

Emohua LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Lloyd Chidi Julius

Votes: 114308

Vice Chairman Elect: Amadi Lilian Obiageri

Etche LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Njoku Boniface Chima

Votes: 100649

Vice Chairman elect: Obele Faith

Gokana LGA – APC

Chairman elect: Deborah Confidence

Votes: 96478

Vice Chairman Elect: Kpobari Epsibari

Ikwerre LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Wobodo Charles

Votes: 62746

Vice chairman elect: Kinika Ethel Chidi

Khana LGA – APC

Chairman elect: Thomas Bariere

Votes: 156027

Vice chairman elect: Ngbere Mpigi

Obio/Akpor LGA – PDP

Chairman elect: Dr. Gift Onyinye Wodo

Votes: 328823

Vice chairman elect: Dr. Mrs. Gloria Joyce Nyeche

Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni – PDP

Chairman Elect: Chukwu Shedrach Ogbodo

Votes: 51051

Vice Chairman elect: Dr. Happiness Nwokocha

Ogu/Bolo LGA- APC

Chairman elect: Vincent Nimieboka

Votes: 36374

Vice chairman: Alabo Eunice

Okrika LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Akuro Alfred Tobin

Votes: 32285

Vice Chaiman elect: Obulubo Charity

Omuma LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: Obasi Uchechukwu

Votes: 38530

Vice Chairman elect: Achiri Faustina Joy

Opobo/Nkoro LGA – APC

Chairman Elect: James A. James

Votes: 34822

Vice Chairman elect: Jacks Gladys

Oyigbo LGA – APC

Chairman elect: Okechukwu Akarao Nwogu

Votes: 101495

Vice Chairman elect: Okorie Ngozi Juliana

Port Harcourt – PDP

Chairman elect: Sir Allwell Ihunda

Votes: 235054

Vice chairman elect: Tom Quinn Mina Mildred

Tai LGA – APC

Chairman elect: Okwe Mbakpone

Votes: 70080

Vice Chairman elect: Caroline Amawa

Security 

The conduct of the election was under heavy security, which was mounted across Rivers State to prevent security challenges and breakdown of law and order across the state. Earlier, the security agencies mounted a heavy presence across Rivers State as residents trooped. The convoy, led by the Nigerian Police Force, featured the Nigerian Army, Navy, NSCDC, FRSC, and other allied agencies in a bid to reassure residents of safety.

Despite the heavy security, multiple reports indicate that the election experienced logistical challenges as the election materials arrived late, which in turn led to low voter turnout of participation of the residents of the state for the election.

Process Peaceful– Sole Administrator

The sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas has expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of the state local government elections, describing it as a decisive step toward restoring full democratic governance at the grassroots.

The administrator said this in Port Harcourt after his monitoring, noting the voters showed comportment of voters, while election officials, noting that their conduct created a calm and secure environment for the polls.

“I am very happy with what I have witnessed today. The process has been notably peaceful, from the significant turnout to the orderly conduct of both voters and election officials. I am confident that at the end of the day, we will have a credible set of results that we will all be proud of as a state.”