Ibok-Ete Ibas, sole administrator of Rivers, says he has delivered on President Bola Tinubu’s directive by restoring the state to “full democratic governance.”
Ibas remarked on Friday at the government house in Port Harcourt while receiving the report of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on the August 30 local government elections.
RSIEC had conducted polls across the 23 LGAs despite legal controversy over Ibas’ role in overseeing the process. The All Progressives Congress (APC) won 20 chairmanship seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three.
Presenting the report, Ibas said the exercise showed the president’s directive had been “sufficiently achieved.” He added that the government would review the RSIEC findings and issue a white paper.
“Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilise the state, create an enabling environment for the re-establishment of its institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance,” Ibas said in a statement by Hector Igbikiowubo, his media aide.
“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.”
Mike Odey, RSIEC chairman, said the report provided a full account of the elections.
“The report highlights our modest achievements, our challenges, and provides key recommendations that will strengthen the future,” Odey said, while commending residents for their peaceful participation.
Tinubu had declared emergency rule in the oil-rich state on March 18 following a political crisis. He suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the assembly for six months before appointing Ibas, a retired naval chief, as sole administrator.
The emergency rule is expected to lapse on Thursday, September 18.
