The Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, has strongly criticized the local government elections conducted on August 30, 2025, in Rivers State, branding the exercise as a “democratic scam” and “totally illegal.”

Speaking on Channels Television on Monday, Epelle explained that the elections were unconstitutional, having not been conducted by a democratically elected government.

“It’s unfortunate we’re living in interesting times, especially politically speaking, and what played out in Rivers State on Saturday can only be described as unprecedented political maneuvering, which is sort of a sham, and what looks like a democratic scam,” Epelle said.

He further elaborated on his position: “I say that to buttress that point. I say that everything about this election that was held on Saturday was totally illegal and unconstitutional.

“The people of Rivers State, we are smart, we’re civilized. They probably thought that people would take to the streets, and I did call on the people, especially the good youth of Rivers State, not to fall into their trap.

“It is absolutely a slap on the people of Rivers State, and we cannot continue the way we are going,” he added.

Epelle also claimed that the announced figures did not accurately reflect what transpired during the election. He warned that the results pose a looming constitutional crisis for the state and are likely to be challenged in court.

The local council elections were conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) across the state’s 23 local government areas. According to the results announced by RSIEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured victories in 20 councils, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in three.