Port Harcourt: Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has announced that the assignment given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been sufficiently achieved, following the successful conduct of local government elections and the swearing-in of elected council officials across the state.
Speaking at Government House, Port Harcourt, on Friday during the formal presentation of the election report by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Ibas noted that Tinubu’s directive to him on March 18, 2025, was to stabilise the state, restore its institutions, and return Rivers to full democratic governance after a period of political crisis.
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.
With the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils, I believe we have decisively achieved the mandate we were given,” Ibas said.
The former naval chief commended RSIEC for delivering what he described as a credible and transparent poll, pointing out that the election was held peacefully, without intimidation, and allowed voters to freely express their choices.
He assured the people of Rivers that government would carefully review RSIEC’s report and release a white paper, while also appreciating the roles played by his administrative team, security agencies, and civil servants in making the transition possible.
Earlier in his remarks, RSIEC Chairman, Dr. Mike Odey, described the election as a historic milestone not just for Rivers State but for Nigeria, stressing that the commission successfully organised, coordinated, and concluded the entire electoral process within 30 days an unprecedented feat in the country’s electoral history.
“The report highlights our modest achievements, the challenges we faced, and provides practical recommendations that will strengthen future elections in Rivers State,” Odey explained.
The conclusion of the elections marks a major step in Rivers State’s transition out of emergency governance. Already, the state government has lined up activities, including a Thanksgiving service, to signify a return to democratic normalcy.
Political watchers say the peaceful conduct of the polls is a significant boost to President Tinubu’s efforts to stabilise the Niger Delta region, especially as the administration faces mounting pressures on security, governance, and the economy nationwide.
