Rivers State Administrator Declares Presidential Mandate Fulfilled with Successful Local Government Elections

Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the Administrator of Rivers State, has formally declared the presidential mandate handed to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as fully accomplished.

The announcement followed the successful conduct of local government elections and the restoration of democratic structures at the grassroots level.

Speaking at Government House, Port Harcourt, during the official presentation of the post-election report by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Ibas described the exercise as a milestone in the transition back to constitutional governance.

He noted that the peaceful and transparent local government elections across the state’s 23 LGAs, along with the swearing-in of duly elected chairmen and councillors, marked the culmination of the assignment given to him by the President on March 18, 2025.

“Mr. President gave clear instructions—to stabilise Rivers State, re-establish its democratic institutions, and return governance to the people,” Ibas said.

“With the successful elections and inauguration of elected local government officials, I can confidently say that the mandate has been effectively delivered.”

The administrator praised RSIEC for conducting what he termed a fair, credible, and transparent election that has drawn commendations both within and outside the state.

“For the first time in recent memory, an election was conducted without intimidation, violence, or interference. Citizens freely exercised their right to vote and chose their leaders in an atmosphere of peace and order,” he remarked.

Ibas further stated that the government would carefully examine the RSIEC report and release a white paper outlining its official position and any subsequent actions.

He expressed gratitude to his administrative team, security agencies, and various state actors for their dedication and coordination.

“This collective effort demonstrates what’s possible when we work together for the good of the people,” he said.

Earlier, RSIEC Chairman Dr. Mike Odey presented the commission’s detailed report, describing the elections as a “historic breakthrough” not only for Rivers State but for Nigeria’s democratic journey.

According to Dr. Odey, the report captures the entire electoral process—from issuance of the election notice, stakeholder consultations, polling, and collation, to the final declaration of results. It also outlines lessons learned and recommendations to enhance future elections in the state.

He emphasized that RSIEC operated strictly within the legal framework of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law of 2018 (as amended), and credited the success of the process to broad-based collaboration with political parties, civil society organisations, and security forces.

Dr. Odey also acknowledged the state administrator for providing full financial backing, which he said was pivotal to the commission’s ability to execute the entire election cycle within just 30 days.

“In the annals of Nigerian electoral history—national or sub-national—no institution has successfully completed an entire election process in 30 days. With humility, we set a new benchmark,” he declared.

He concluded by thanking the people of Rivers State for their peaceful conduct and participation throughout the process, and offered prayers for the state’s continued peace and development.