Ibok-Ete Ibas, the administrator of Rivers state, says Saturday’s LG election was peaceful and orderly, describing it a decisive step toward restoring democratic governance at the grassroots.
Ibas monitored the exercise in several local government areas, including Emohua, Ahoada East, and Port Harcourt.
Speaking with journalists during the elections, he said the comportment of voters and election officials created a calm and secure atmosphere for the polls.
The administrator said reports from the 23 LGAs were consistent with his observations, pointing to a largely incident-free exercise.
“I am very happy with what I have witnessed today,” Ibas said.
“The process has been notably peaceful, from the significant turnout to the orderly conduct of both voters and election officials. I am confident that at the end of the day, we will have a credible set of results that we will all be proud of as a state.
“Generally, the situation has been calm and seamless across the state. We have not received any major negative reports, which is a testament to the collective desire for peace and normalcy.”
Ibas added that the election reflects the people’s desire to elect leaders they can identify with at the local level, saying it aligns with his mandate to stabilize the state and return it to democratic rule.
“Certainly, all indigenes of Rivers state want and deserve grassroots leadership they can call their own. That is what this process represents,” he said.
“Facilitating this foundational tier of democracy is a core objective of my mandate: to put the state back on a stable, democratic path and empower its people.”
In February, the supreme court nullified the LG election conducted in Rivers on October 5, 2024, during the administration of Siminalayi Fubara.
The apex court held that there was no evidence to show that the conditions set out in section 150(3) of the electoral act were met before the RSIEC conducted the polls.
In March, President Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the legislative arm for six months over an alleged political crisis in the state.
The president then appointed Ibas as the sole administrator with a term limit of six months.
In July, the RSIEC scheduled August 30 for the LG polls in the south-south state.
