Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has officially declared that the task assigned to him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been successfully delivered, with the restoration of local government democratic governance serving as the highlight.
During a ceremony at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday, Ibas received the official report from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and stressed that the mission entrusted to him in March 2025 had reached a successful conclusion.
“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 that we were given,” Ibas explained.
The retired Vice Admiral pointed to the completion of local government elections and the installation of democratically elected officials across 23 councils as evidence that Rivers State has regained full democratic stability.
He further commended RSIEC for organizing what he described as a transparent and credible election process, noting that citizens participated freely without intimidation or harassment.
RSIEC Chairman, Dr. Mike Odey, in presenting the report, hailed the election as a landmark moment in the nation’s electoral system. He revealed that the commission conducted and finalized the polls within a record 30-day period, describing it as an “unmatched achievement in Nigeria’s democratic history.”
Odey added, “The report highlights our modest achievements, our challenges, and provides key recommendations that will strengthen future elections in Rivers State.”
Ibas promised that a white paper would be issued after reviewing the report while appreciating security agencies and state workers for their contributions.