Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the Administrator of Rivers State, has officially announced that he has successfully fulfilled the mandate given to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This declaration follows the effective restoration of democratic governance at the local level.
The announcement took place on Friday at the Government House in Port Harcourt during a ceremony where the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) presented a comprehensive report on the recent local government elections to the State Administrator.
In his speech, Vice Admiral Ibas highlighted that the peaceful execution of the elections and the subsequent inauguration of democratically elected Chairpersons and Councillors across all 23 Local Government Areas signify the direct realization of the presidential directive received on March 18, 2025.
“The President’s instructions were explicit: to stabilize the state, foster an environment conducive to the re-establishment of its institutions, and restore full democratic governance in Rivers State,” stated the Administrator. “With the successful conduct and inauguration of local government leaders, I am confident that we have fully accomplished the mandate entrusted to us.”
Ibas praised the RSIEC for organizing what he termed a fair, credible, and transparent electoral process, which has garnered widespread acclaim both within and outside the state.
“For the first time, an election was held without harassment, allowing citizens to freely express their choices and select their leaders. This reflects the peaceful and supportive atmosphere we have collectively cultivated,” he remarked.
The Administrator assured that his administration would thoroughly review the RSIEC report and release an official government white paper in due course. He expressed his deep gratitude to his team, security forces, and state officials for their collaborative efforts, stating, “This is essential for nation-building.”
During the presentation of the report, Dr. Mike Odey, Chairman of RSIEC, characterized the election as a “historic achievement” for both the state and the nation. He indicated that the report provides a complete account of the process, from the initial announcement of the election to stakeholder engagement, polling, result collation, and the final declaration of winners.
“The report outlines our accomplishments, challenges, and offers key recommendations to enhance future elections in Rivers State,” Dr. Odey noted.
He emphasized that the Commission adhered strictly to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law of 2018 (as amended) and attributed the election’s success to strong collaboration with political parties, civil society, and security agencies.
Dr. Odey also expressed gratitude to the Administrator for providing “adequate and sufficient” funding, which facilitated an unprecedented achievement in Nigerian electoral management.
“In the history of election management in Nigeria, whether at the national or sub-national level, no institution has ever organized, coordinated, conducted, and supervised a complete electoral process in just 30 days. I take pride in stating this fact for the record,” he asserted.
In closing, the RSIEC Chairman commended the citizens of Rivers State for their peaceful engagement and cooperation throughout the electoral process, wishing for the continued growth and prosperity of the state.
