The Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, has announced that political parties under its platform will not participate in the August 30, 2025 Local Government elections in Rivers State.

IPAC said the election is illegal and unconstitutional and a mockery of Nigeria’s democracy, insisting that only an elected Governor has the power to conduct such an election.

IPAC pointed out that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State was to contain the protracted political crisis and restore peace and order in the state and not to conduct democratic elections.

IPAC believes that the Sole administrator is not an emperor with absolute power to rule.

“It’s illegal, unconstitutional and a mockery of our emerging democracy. It’s unacceptable and should be rejected by all lovers of constitutional governance in Nigeria,” a statement signed by Dr Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, its National Chairman.

“The Sole Administrator has no constitutional mandate to conduct a democratic election as if the nation is under a military regime. Only an elected governor has the constitutional power to conduct a local government election in collaboration with the State House of Assembly.

“The Sole Administrator cannot arrogate to himself powers in flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

“The state of emergency was declared to contain the protracted political crises and restore peace and order in Rivers State.

“The Sole Administrator is not an Emperor with absolute power to rule as he pleases.”

IPAC said it has directed all political parties not to participate in what it described as a charade and sham local government election in Rivers State.

“Gathering political hirelings who claimed to be chairmen of their political parties in Rivers State to endorse the conduct of the purported local government election smacks of desperation by the sole administrator. Fake State Chairmen cannot give legitimacy to gross illegality, unconstitutionality and abuse of Office,” it added.

Recall that a letter by IPAC, dated 1st August, 2025, written to the Sole Administrator and copied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Senate, Speaker House of Representatives, Chairman INEC, DG Department of State Services and Inspector General of Police, had rejected the proposed Rivers State Local Government election and warned the Sole Administrator against making a caricature of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and its institutions.

It said as the umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, is unwavering in its commitment to consolidate and deepen the nation’s democracy, ensuring an environment conducive to successful elections, political stability and well-being of Nigerians.

“Council will resist any attempt to undermine our hard-earned democracy by anti-democratic and reactionary forces,” it added.

“We urge citizens, patriots, men and women of goodwill to join us in deepening our democracy as well as in condemning this obvious hijack of the political system by anti-democratic forces.”