Prominent Rivers State leaders, including former governor Celestine Omehia and ex-PDP National Chairman Uche Secondus, have petitioned President Bola Tinubu to halt the planned August 30 local government elections, citing constitutional breaches and threats to democracy.
In an open letter titled “Rivers LG Election: A Serious Threat to Democracy and Repeated Violations of the Constitution”, the group—operating under the banner Major Stakeholders—demanded the lifting of the state of emergency, the reinstatement of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and the return of the State House of Assembly.
The stakeholders, including Atedo Peterside, Chief Abiye Sekibo, Senator Lee Maeba, Dr Dakuku Peterside, Senator Andrew Uchendu, and Engr Tele Ikuru, described the polls as “an existential assault on democracy” and a “blatant violation” of the 1999 Constitution.
They argued that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), led by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete (retd.), was illegally constituted, lacked the governor’s and assembly’s approval, and failed to meet the mandatory 90-day notice requirement for elections.
The letter warned that proceeding with the elections—despite pending court cases on the legality of the Sole Administrator’s appointment—would deepen the constitutional crisis triggered by the suspension of the state’s executive and legislature.
Citing Supreme Court precedents and constitutional provisions, they insisted that only a duly elected state government can conduct local council polls, not a federally appointed administrator “lacking any legal foundation.”
Calling on the president, National Assembly, judiciary, civil society, and the international community to intervene, they declared: “Rivers State stands at a crossroads: surrender to impunity or uphold the Constitution and the will of the people. The choice is ours—and the stakes could not be higher.”
Other signatories include Prince Fafaa Dan Princewill, Engr Dagogo Jack, Randolph Iwo Brown, Dr Austin Tam-George, Donu Kogbara, Dr Sokonte Davies, Dr Glory Emeh, George Feyii, Hon Asita, Surv Sam Agwor, and Ann-Kio Briggs.
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