Miss Aaue Samuel Olubari, a newly elected councillor in Rivers State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has dismissed claims that she is 19 years old.
Rivers State LG election held on Saturday, August 30, 2025, in 6,866 polling units in the 319 wards, had the APC win 20 out of the 23 LGAs in the state. PDP won the remaining 3 LGAs.
Olubari, who contested for a councillorship seat under the APC, was declared the winner of Bangha Ward 7 in Khana LGA.
Announcing the election results on Sunday, RSIEC said the APC won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the State, while candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Obio/Akpor, Ogba/Egbema/Ndon, and Port Harcourt City.
Candidates of the APC won in Ahoada East, Asari Toru, Ikwerre, Bonny, Degema, Eleme, Etche, Gokana, and Khana LGAs. Other councils included Ogu/Bolo, Opobo/Nkoro, Okrika, Emohua and Akuku Tor.
The political parties that participated in Saturday’s chairmanship and councillorship elections were: APC, PDP, Labour Party (LP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Zenith Party, Accord, African Action Congress, Action People’s Party (APP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Others were: Action Alliance, Youth Party, Young Progressive Party, Action Democratic, New Nigerian People’s Party, National Rescue Movement, and Allied People’s Party.
Reports stated that Miss Olubari was among the APC councillorship candidates who emerged victorious at the election.
Miss Olubari contested for the councillor of Bangha Ward 7 in Khana LGA in the Rivers LGA election.
Days before the election, she was formally presented to party leaders and stakeholders by the APC Khana Chairman, Hon. Barile Ebenezer, during the ward-to-ward sensitization campaign.
The young councillor’s win was celebrated as proof that the “Not Too Young to Run” movement is gradually taking root, giving young people the chance to directly shape governance at the grassroots level.
‘Not Too Young to Run Bill’ was signed into law in 2018 by Former President, late Muhammadu Buhari.
It was passed by the National Assembly in 2017 to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, and 177 of the Constitution. It was to reduce the age qualification for president from 40 to 30; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25; and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.
It was alleged that Miss Olubari was the youngest candidate in the election because she is 19 years old.
However, in an interview with Daily Trust, Olubari stated that she is 26 years old and not 19 as widely claimed.
