The BOOT Party has announced its withdrawal from the forthcoming Rivers State Local Government elections slated for August 30, 2025, citing legal and constitutional concerns.
In a statement issued by its state chairman, Ambassador Abednego Oli Benjamin, the party said the decision was premised on three major grounds, including the short notice given for the election, a pending court case challenging the legality of the current administration in the state, and respect for Supreme Court authority.
According to the party, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) violated the Electoral Act 2022 by providing only 34 days’ notice for the polls, far short of the 90-day minimum stipulated in Section 150(1) of the law. The Supreme Court, the statement noted, has previously ruled that any election held without the required notice period is invalid.
The BOOT Party further explained that it has filed a suit at the Federal High Court challenging the constitutionality of the emergency-rule and sole-administrator system currently in place in Rivers State. It argued that participating in the election would imply recognition of a regime whose legality remains under judicial scrutiny.
“In adherence to the binding authority of the Supreme Court and in defense of democratic principles, the BOOT Party cannot, in good conscience, participate in the August 30 elections,” the statement read.
The party reiterated its commitment to the rule of law and called on other stakeholders to uphold constitutional integrity in the electoral process.
