Rivers State Governor-elect, Siminalaye Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu were yesterday presented with their Certificates of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Also presented with Certificates of Return were 32 members-elect of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The occasion was witnessed by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, as well as former Deputy National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party, Dr Sam Sam Jaja and the PDP chairman in Rivers State, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, among others.

The presentation, which was held at the INEC office in Port Harcourt, was performed by the commission’s National Commissioner supervising Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers State, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu.

Speaking after receiving his certificate of return, Fubara urged the opposition to join his incoming administration to build a better and progressive Rivers State.

He said: “For the opposition, our doors are open, including our window. If you don’t want to pass the door you can enter through the window because we really need everyone on board for a better and progressive Rivers State.”

The governor-elect commended INEC for the successful conduct of the governorship election, which he described as one of the best in recent history of the State.

Fubara attributed the success recorded by INEC in the governorship and House of Assembly elections to the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

He said: “I want to commend you for this innovation. Although we had a little hitches here and there, I believe going forward, INEC should ensure that ad hoc staff, including their staff are given proper training early enough so that the hitches experienced, most especially during the presidential election will not be experienced in future election.”

The governor-elect commended Rivers electorate for voting massively for him, his deputy and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates in the election.

Fubara stated that his emergence as the governor-elect is a resounding reaffirmation of Rivers’ people support for continuity and consolidation of the New Rivers vision of the governor Wike’s administration.

He said: “We will ensure that, though the bar had been raised before us, we will also raise the bar for whoever is going to takeover from us.”

Fubara thanked Wike, whose sterling performance in office spurred the electorate in the State to vote for him and the 32 House of Assembly members elect.

In her remarks, the INEC National Commissioner supervising Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa and Rivers State, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, told the governor-elect and the lawmakers elect to realise that being successfully elected into an office is a call to service.

Agbamuche-Mbu said: “Beyond the excitement of your new position and office you must commit to good leadership and you must ensure the trust and vote of the electorate are reciprocated with good governance, security of life , positive human and infrastructural development in Rivers state and Nigeria by extension.”

She appealed to security agencies and political parties to cooperate with INEC to ensure hitch free conduct of supplementary election in two federal constituencies, namely PHALGA 2 and Khana/Gokana in the State this weekend.

On his part, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, urged the governor-elect and others not to see their success in the poll as a personal victory, but a triumph for the democratic process and a call for national duty.

Sinikiem said: “You must be magnanimous in victory and ensure you run an inclusive government at all levels. Let me remind you that the office you have been elected into is essentially rendering service to God and humanity.

“There are expectations not only from those who voted you into office but also from all Nigerians within and outside Rivers State. I pray that God will give you the wisdom and courage to make the right decisions that will better the lives of our people and by extension our nation Nigeria.”

He further advised the governor-elect and others who won their election and will be part of governance from May 29, 2023, to use their good office to deepen democratic ethos in Nigeria by ensuring that they do their bit to better the country’s electoral process.