Rivers Council Polls: Chidi Lloyd, Ex-Wike LG Chairmen Emerge Consensus Candidates as PDP, APC Forge Alliance
Among those selected is Chidi Lloyd, a former chairman and one-time close ally of Wike, who clinched the PDP ticket for Emohua Local Government Area
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Rivers Council Polls: Chidi Lloyd, Ex-Wike LG Chairmen Emerge Consensus Candidates as PDP, APC Forge Alliance
In a dramatic political development ahead of the August 30, 2025, local government elections in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined forces to present consensus chairmanship candidates across the state’s 23 local government areas.
Many of the chosen candidates are former council chairmen and well-known loyalists of the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, underscoring the enduring influence of the former Rivers governor amid persistent intra-party tensions.
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Among those selected is Chidi Lloyd, a former chairman and one-time close ally of Wike, who clinched the PDP ticket for Emohua Local Government Area. Other candidates include Onengiyeofori George (Asari-Toru, APC), Charles Wobodo (Ikwerre, APC), Thomas Bariere Ariar (Khana, APC), Michael Williams (Degema, APC), Allwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt, PDP), and several others, most of whom either served previously or have longstanding ties to the Wike political structure.
The decision to harmonise candidates has, however, triggered backlash from some quarters of both parties. Factional members within the APC and PDP have condemned the arrangement, labelling it undemocratic and threatening to boycott the polls altogether.
Spokesperson of the Emeka Bekee-led APC faction, Darlington Nwauju, declared the primaries null and void, arguing that the Sole Administrator of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas (rtd), lacks the constitutional authority to oversee the process.
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“This entire exercise is an abuse of state resources and a mockery of democracy,” Nwauju stated. “Only a democratically elected governor has the mandate to constitute an electoral body. Anything short of that is illegitimate.”
Despite the criticisms, some party leaders have defended the cross-party consensus. Former Obio/Akpor chairman George Ariolu, himself a product of Wike’s political network, justified the move, calling it a “family decision” made in the interest of peace.
“It is a normal thing to agree on consensus candidates,” Ariolu explained. “Consensus helps reduce acrimony and political bitterness. PDP and APC are working together because we are one political family, and our leader, the Minister of FCT, has built a bridge of political understanding.”
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He added that the collaboration is reflective of the broader national political atmosphere, pointing to Wike’s alliance with President Bola Tinubu, leader of the APC.
The alliance appears to have received the blessing of both camps, with leaders citing “love, understanding, and unity” as reasons for the unusual political marriage.
Meanwhile, civil society groups have voiced strong opposition. The Rivers State chapter of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has warned it will explore all democratic and legal means to halt the election, which it believes is flawed and orchestrated to entrench one political dynasty under the guise of multi-party democracy.
With tensions mounting and legal threats looming, political observers say the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the credibility and outcome of the August 30 polls.
Whether the APC-PDP alliance holds or unravels under pressure, one thing is certain: Rivers politics continues to be unpredictable, with power blocs reshaping traditional party lines in ways few expected.
