Abuja, 1 September 2025 — Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has leveled a scathing critique at the recently conducted local government elections in Rivers State, characterizing them as a grave threat to democracy. In a statement posted on his verified X account on Sunday, Atiku described the elections as “an awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy.
Atiku accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and what he termed the “occupation government” of orchestrating the exercise in a manner that flagrantly disregarded Nigeria’s democratic principles. “By the shameful and shambolic manner in which the occupation government went ahead to conduct local government elections in Rivers State, it is clear that the ruling APC party is not leaving anyone in doubt that it is prepared to throw caution to the wind in order to achieve an inordinate political advantage,” he wrote Daily Post Nigeria and Vanguard News.
He further appealed to “well-meaning Nigerians, the international community, and all friends and partners of Nigeria” to take notice of what he called the “dangerous curve” the Tinubu administration is steering the country toward . To underline his point, Atiku urged opposition parties in Rivers State to reject the election results, asserting that the exercise was carried out by an administration wielding “extraneous” powers with no constitutional legitimacy .
Expressing solidarity with the embattled citizens of Rivers State, Atiku said, “I wish to share my unflinching solidarity with the good people of Rivers State, who are currently victims of political brigandry by a power cabal which is bent on overturning their democratic rights at all cost.
Why This Matters
These elections, held on 30 August 2025, saw the APC claim victory in 20 out of 23 local government areas in Rivers State, according to results announced by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won only three areas: Obio-Akpor, Port Harcourt City (PHALGA), and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni. Atiku’s critique underscores wider concerns that the electoral process was compromised, casting doubt on its legitimacy and fairness.
By framing the incident as a cautionary warning to both domestic and international stakeholders, Atiku is drawing attention not just to Rivers State but to a broader pattern of democratic erosion. His remarks hint at the risks of normalizing partisan manipulation of governance structures—a trend he believes could endanger Nigeria’s federal democratic fabric.