The Tony Okocha-led All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has expressed readiness to participate in the August 30 Local Government Council elections in the state.

However, the factional APC Chairman in the state, Emeka Beke, has vowed to challenge the authority of the Rivers State Sole Administrator to conduct the elections.

While Okocha noted that their decision to participate in the elections is because things are done properly, Beke argued that the sole administrator lacks the legal right to organise local government elections. He also noted that his party’s failure to obey the rule of law makes it difficult to determine whether they will participate in the polls.

The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had announced August 30th, 2025, as the new date for the conduct of local government elections in the state.

The RSIEC Chairman, Dr. Michael Odey, disclosed this at the RSIEC headquarters in Port Harcourt during a stakeholders’ meeting where he unveiled the revised 2025 timetable and guidelines for the upcoming polls.

Addressing newsmen, Okocha said, “As you can see and witnessed, you did not hear people shouting and showing aversion because things are done properly.

“Recall that sometime ago, when this process was to hold, it was marred because things were not done properly, and that’s why some of us went to court. The APC in Rivers State is fully prepared for the election, any day, any time,” he said.

“Don’t forget that we have always said that we are one hundred per cent ready for the election. The chairman and his team are not new to election management matters.

“As a party, the Rivers APC, we do not doubt their ability and capacity to organise a free, fair, peaceful, and credible local government election in Rivers State as proposed.”

Okocha commended RSIEC for taking the right step, noting that the electoral body is qualified to conduct the elections.