Loyalist of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have emerged as the chairmanship and councillor candidates for both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the August 30th, 2025, local government elections in Rivers State.
The PUNCH reports that some candidates emerged through the normal process while others were reportedly chosen via consensus at primaries held by political parties across various centres in the states on Saturday after the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission released guidelines for the election.
In Ikwerre local government area, Charles Wobodo emerged as the APC Chairman candidate for the August 30th LG poll after clinching the party’s ticket with 64 votes of the 65 votes cast during the primary electronic.
In his acceptance speech, Wobodo thanked the APC members in Ikwerre LGA for their overwhelming support and pledged to provide purposeful leadership if elected.
He said: “My leaders in APC, the stakeholders of the APC here present. You have shown love for me and I thank you very much.
“You have shown that hard work pays. I want to thank you for giving me the mandate of this party to carry the flag of the APC in the coming local government elections.
“I assure you my win is for Ikwerre local government.”
Some of those who emerged include, Dr Chidi Liyod, an ally of Wike, as Chairmanship candidate for Emuoha LGA, Dr Thomas Bariere, also Wike’s ally for Khana LGA, Hon. Confidence Dekor, Wike’s ally for Gokana LGA.
Others are Tai LGA, Mbakpone Okpe,
Okrika LGA, Akuro Tobins, Port Harcourt City LGA, Allwell Ihunda, Asari Toru LGA Onengiyeofori George, among others.
PUNCH reports that the above-named candidates who emerged as candidates all served as elected local government chairman when Wike held away as Rivers State Governor.
The other candidates and LGAs include: Okrika: Akuro Tobin, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni: Shedrack Chukwu, Omuma LGA, Uchechukwu Obasi, Degema LGA, Michael Williams, Oyigbo LGA, Okechukwu Akara, Bonny LGA, Abinye Blessing Pepple.
Also, Vincent Nemioboka emerged as a candidate for Ogu/Bolo, Hon Chima Njoku for Etche LGA, all belonging to the camp of Wike.
Bellnews understands that the candidates for about eight LGAs are still being awaited.
Meanwhile, the Chief Emeke Beke-led APC in Rivers State has rejected and distanced itself from what they call an unauthorised endorsement of persons entirely unknown to the party as candidates.
The spokesperson of the Emeka Beke-led APC Darrington Nwauju said that the party has a Constitution and procedures for conducting primaries which he said do not include gifting out party flags, endorsement or recognition to persons whose identities are entirely strange or whose names are not reflected as members in the party register.