The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, and hitch-free local government elections in the state.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement in Port Harcourt, Professor Chidi Halliday, RSIEC’s Director of Administration and Legal Services, in his keynote address, assured that the commission has complied with all constitutional requirements to ensure a smooth electoral process.

Professor Halliday highlighted that RSIEC has obtained the updated voter register, met the 150-day notice period, and has not contravened the 30-day limit allowed by the amended emergency regulations.

He said, “The Commission, being proactive on the 5th of March, did release the notice and guidelines for local government elections fixed for the 9th of August 2025.”

“The Administrator appointed by the President never suspended that notice; there was no political party that was stopped from exercising its roles as a party.”

“On the 28th of July, we had the stakeholders’ meeting and released the revised timetable and not one political party said that what we were doing was against the law.”

In his remarks at the meeting, the convener of Rivers Peace Initiative, Mr. Obinna Ebogidi, said it was important for stakeholders to address the issue of local participation in elections in an atmosphere of peace and unity.

He said, “This town hall is not just about local government elections, it’s about the dignity of every Rivers Person, it’s about protecting the sanctity of our democratic processes. It is about keeping our communities safe, united, and forward-looking.

“No ambition, no interest, no coalition is worth the blood of any Rivers person and no difference is too wide to narrow our bridge.”

The Oba of Ogbaland, His Eminence Eze Nwachukwu Obuohna Obi the Third, while thanking President Bola Tinubu for his timely intervention which halted the political stalemate in the state, called on people of the state to join forces to implement every measure that would return democratic structures to Rivers State.

He said, “There must be a way forward to every situation. Let me say thank you to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and those who worked with him because both sides were not listening to anybody.”

The Rivers State Police Commissioner, CP Adewale Adepoju, represented by the State Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, assured the public of the police’s preparedness to safeguard lives and ensure the peaceful conduct of elections in the state.