The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has said that it would uphold transparency, fairness and equity during the forthcoming local government election.
The election, scheduled to hold on 30 August, 2025, elicited criticisms in certain quarters in recent weeks, with some questioning its constitutionality and the credibility of the current RSIEC to conduct a free and fair election.
But speaking at a town hall meeting organised by the Rivers Peace Initiative on Friday in Port Harcourt, Chidi Halliday, RSIEC’s commissioner for administration and legal and keynote speaker at the parley, assured that the commission would be transparent, fair and impartial in the discharge of their duties.
He advised critics of the forthcoming exercise to be more constructive. He also appealed to Rivers’ people to participate in the election.
“For us in the commission, we have created a level – playing environment. There’s no partiality in what we’re doing; nothing is hidden. We’re working on the ethos of transparency. But as much as possible, we request and desire constructive opinion, constructive advice, and those that are participating, let them participate well.
“For us as Rivers people, there is no going back. We cannot be talking about whether the election will hold or not; what should be in us is: ‘What is it we have to do for this election to be a success?’” Halliday, a political scientist and professor of law, said.
In his remarks, the king of Ogba Land, Nnam Obi III, urged Rivers’ people and all aggrieved persons in the political crisis to forget the past and embrace peace so that the state can move forward.
“There must be a way forward for every situation and if that path has been taken and is seen to be yielding results, then I do not see what is wrong with it…I believe the time is ripe when we begin to reconsider going back to the normal situation…I, as Oba of Ogba Land, I welcome whatever will bring us back to democratic governance as it should be in the state. If by what we do will enable a return back to what it should be, we’re all for it,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Obinna Ebogidi, convener, Rivers Peace Initiative, said the town hall meeting was not primarily about the local government election but about the dignity of the Rivers’ person and sanctity of the state’s democratic process.
“Today’s Town Hall is not just about the LGA elections. It is about the dignity of the Rivers’ person. It is about protecting the sanctity of our democratic process while keeping our communities safe, united, and forward-looking. It is about proving that we can disagree without being enemies, and we can compete without destroying the very fabric of our society,” he said.
