Jake Epelle, Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, has strongly criticized the upcoming local government elections in Rivers State, questioning the integrity of the entire process and the emergence of candidates from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Epelle described the selection of candidates as “orchestrated” and designed to deceive the public.
“These candidates didn’t just emerge. They were carefully concealed until now. What we’re seeing is a mix of PDP and APC figures bundled together to mislead innocent voters in Rivers,” he said.
Epelle alleged that the process was manipulated to benefit loyalists of the current administration, claiming the elections are simply a strategy to siphon state resources.
“This is a well-rehearsed performance. Those being rewarded with these positions do not have the intellectual or moral capacity to lead. They aren’t interested in serving the people, only in securing power and privilege,” he added.
He accused the electoral process of lacking transparency and fairness, stating that the organizers are attempting to cover up their real motives by presenting a false sense of political inclusivity.
“They’re trying to decorate a flawed process and make it appear legitimate. But no amount of embellishment can make a bad product good,” Epelle said.
Challenging past local government leaders, he called on them to publicly disclose their achievements, if any, while also expressing skepticism about the judiciary’s ability to handle electoral matters impartially.
“This election has failed every test, legal, moral, and even common sense. I don’t have much faith in the legal system,” he said.
Despite his disapproval, Epelle advised residents of Rivers State to avoid taking the law into their own hands and to remain calm while hoping for divine or judicial intervention.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has set a new date for the local government polls. The elections will now be held on August 30, 2025, following a delay due to the state of emergency currently in effect.
RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey, explained that the revised timetable was necessary to accommodate disruptions caused by the emergency rule. Key dates include:
* Party Primaries: July 31 – August 3, 2025
* Submission of Candidate Lists:August 3 – August 4, 2025
* Campaigns Begin: August 12, 2025
* Recruitment of Ad-hoc Staff: August 16, 2025
* Publication of Candidate List:August 20, 2025
The elections will take place under the oversight of the state’s interim leadership, headed by retired naval officer Ibok-Ete Ibas.
Observers, political stakeholders, and media representatives were present during the unveiling of the updated election schedule.
