President Bola Tinubu has amended the powers of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State regarding the conduct of local government elections, as well as the handling of related petitions and litigations in the emergency-affected area.
The changes were outlined in Official Gazette No. 125, dated July 22, 2025, and issued in Lagos by the Federal Government.
According to the gazette, Section 2(2) of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Law No. 2 of 2018 — which stipulates procedures for appointing the RSIEC Chairman and members — has been suspended.
In its place, the Sole Administrator has now been vested with the authority to appoint and swear in the Chairman and members of RSIEC, consolidating significant control over the state’s local electoral processes.
