Rivers sole administrator say e don achieve im mandate as thanksgiving service hold ahead of transition

Di Rivers State sole administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, say e don achieve di mandate wey President Bola Ahmed Tinubu give am following di successful restoration of democratic governance am for di grassroots level.

E make dis declaration for Govment House, Port Harcourt, wen di Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) present di comprehensive report of di recently concluded local govment elections to di state administrator.

Vice Admiral Ibas say di peaceful conduct of di polls and subsequent swearing-in of democratically elected chairmen and councillors across all 23 local govment areas mark di direct fulfilment of di presidential directive to am on March 18, 2025.

“Mr. President mandate to me dey clear: to stabilise di state, create enabling environment for di re-establishment of di institutions, and return Rivers State back to full democratic governance,” di administrator tok.

“Wit di successful conduct and swearing-in of local govment chairmen and dia councils, I believe say we don decisively achieve di mandate wey dem give us.”

E commend RSIEC for organising wetin e describe as fair, credible, and transparent electoral process.

“For once, we conduct election wia nobody bin dey harassed, wia pipo go out freely to express demsefs and to select who dem want as dia leaders. Dis na testament to di peaceful and enabling environment we don collectively foster,” e add.

Di administrator say im administration go carefully review di RSIEC report and issue official govment white paper in due course, and appreciate im team, security agencies, and state officials for dia collaborative effort and synergy, as "dis na wetin e take to build nations”.

Di chairman of RSIEC, Dr. Mike Odey as e present di report describe di election as “historic achievement” for di state and di kontri.

E say di document provide full account of di entire process, from di initial notice of election to stakeholder engagements, polling, collation of results, and di final announcement of winners.

“Di report highlight our modest achievements, our challenges, and provide key recommendations wey go strengthen future elections for Rivers State,” Dr. Odey tok.

E emphasise say di Commission operate strictly in accordance wit di Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law of 2018 (as amended) and credit di election success to robust collaboration wit political parties, civil society organisations, and security agencies.

Dr. Odey also tank di administrator for providing “adequate and sufficient” funding, wey enable dem achieve dis feat.

“For di history of election management for Nigeria, be it national or sub-national, no institution don ever organise, coordinate, conduct, and supervise a complete electoral process within a period of 30 days. Wit all modesty, I no get any regrets in stating dis fact for di record."

Di RSIEC chairman also tank Rivers State pipo for dia peaceful participation and cooperation throughout di exercise, pray for di continued progress and prosperity of di state.

Meanwhile, di govment of Rivers dey plan thanksgiving service as part of activities to usher in democratic governance for di state.

Di thanksgiving service go hold on Sunday 14 September as Govnor Siminalayi Fubara dey expected to resume on Thursday 18 September.