Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has announced that he has fulfilled President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to restore democratic governance in the state.
The declaration came yesterday during the formal submission of the local government election report by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Ibas stated that the President’s directive, issued on March 18, 2025, was to “stabilise the state, re-establish its institutions, and return Rivers to full democratic governance.”
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He affirmed that the successful conduct and subsequent swearing-in of elected chairmen and councillors across the 23 local governments marked the completion of this assignment.
“With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate that we were given,” Ibas said.
He lauded RSIEC for what he described as a credible and transparent election, noting the absence of harassment and the freedom voters had to express their choices.
Ibas assured the public that his administration would review the report and issue a white paper, while also thanking his team, security agencies, and state officials for their contributions.
Earlier, RSIEC Chairman, Mike Odey, hailed the election as a “historic achievement” for both Rivers State and Nigeria.
He highlighted that the polls were organised, coordinated, and concluded within an unprecedented 30-day timeframe.
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“The report highlights our modest achievements, our challenges, and provides key recommendations that will strengthen future elections in Rivers State,” Odey stated.
The swift and peaceful election process is seen as a key step in returning stability to the state’s political landscape.
