•State APC pledges to work with Fubara

The chairmanship candidates of the Labour Party (LP) in Rivers State have announced their decision to take legal action over alleged irregularities and breaches that marred the August 30, 2025, local council elections.

In a joint statement by Dienye Pepple (Opobo/Nkoro); Miller Ngozi Chika (Emuoha); Fidelis Ikebuluwa (Ahoada East); Charles Inko-Tarriah (Asari/Toru), and Prince Tonye Jeminimiema (Bonny), the candidates revealed that they have instructed their legal teams to file petitions before the appropriate election tribunal constituted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

“As candidates who participated in the election, we possess both the legal and moral right to challenge the irregularities and breaches that marred the poll,” they stated.

The candidates condemned a recent statement issued by a self-styled “Coalition of Political Parties” regarding the outcome of the election, describing it as misleading and an attempt to undermine the electoral process.

They emphasised that they were not consulted or involved in the decision-making process that produced the statement. The candidates, who contested in the election, expressed their disappointment and frustration with the coalition’s statement, which, they claim, does not reflect their position.

“We are neither members of the said coalition nor were we consulted, informed or in any manner involved in the decision-making process that produced its statement,” the candidates stated. “The coalition does not speak for us. None of its members stood as candidates in the August 30 election.”

MEANWHILE, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Rivers State, whose candidates won 20 chairmanship seats at the just concluded local council elections, has promised to work with the suspended Governor Siminalyi Fubara, as he is expected to return to office on September 18, 2025.

Though the party said that working with Fubara does not mean that if the governor deviates or delves into obnoxious acts and laws, he cannot be criticised and called to order.

The State Chairman of APC, Tony Okocha, stated this in Port Harcourt yesterday while expressing thanks to residents of the state, thenational executives of APC and President Bola Tinubu for support during the council polls.

Okocha said: “It is real that September 18 will mark exactly six months State of Emergency was declared in Rivers State and the suspension of the governor for the reason we all know, and as the six months elapse on September 18, the governor is expected to return to office. So, we will work with him.