Rivers administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas has hailed local government elections as peaceful, and a decisive step toward restoring grassroots democratic governance.
Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has described Saturday’s local government (LG) election as peaceful and orderly, calling it a decisive step toward restoring democratic governance at the grassroots.
Ibas, who monitored the exercise across several areas including Emohua, Ahoada East, and Port Harcourt, said the conduct of voters and officials created a calm and secure atmosphere for the polls.
Speaking with journalists, the administrator noted that reports from all 23 LGAs aligned with his own observations, pointing to a largely incident-free process.
“I am very happy with what I have witnessed today,” he 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 stressed that the election reflects the people’s aspiration to elect leaders they can identify with at the grassroots, noting that it aligns with his mandate to stabiliss 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.”
Saturday’s election followed a series of political and legal setbacks in the state. In February, the Supreme Court nullified the October 5, 2024 LG polls held under the administration of then-governor Siminalayi Fubara, ruling that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had failed to meet the requirements of Section 150(3) of the Electoral Act before conducting the election.
The following month, President Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the state legislature for six months over the escalating political crisis. He subsequently appointed Ibas as sole administrator, with a mandate limited to six months.
In July, RSIEC rescheduled the LG elections for August 30, setting the stage for Saturday’s vote.
With calm largely prevailing across the state during the polls, Ibas expressed optimism that the exercise would help lay the foundation for Rivers’ democratic recovery.
Voting has ended in all 23 LGAs of Rivers State. Collation of results ongoing at headquarters of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
Results results may be released Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, casting his vote in unit 15, Ward 1 Obio/Akpor Local government area of Rivers State.
Senator Magnus Abe casting his vote at ward 16 Bera, in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Dr Michael Odey, says while results will be counted at the polling units, winners will only be announced at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission office after final collation, which could be Sunday.
13:00 FCT Minister Wike Votes, Hails Turnout
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike exercised his franchise in the ongoing local government election in Rivers State, expressing satisfaction with the turnout and emphasising the importance of credible grassroots leadership.
Speaking after casting his ballot at Ward 9, Unit 9 in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Port Harcourt, Wike said, “I’m very happy with the turnout of people. I’ve got a lot of support from the rural areas. And the people came out very well to participate in this election. So I’m very happy.”
Our correspondent Blessing Ibunge reports that voting has commenced at majority of the various wards and polling units across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, amidst voter apathy.
As at the time of filing this report, in LGAs monitored including PHALGA, Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo, Khana, Eleme, Oyigbo, Akuku-Toru, Ahoada East, Okrika, Tai, Gokana, Abua/Odual and Degema local government areas, voting commenced between 10.30am and 11.30 am in polling units where materials have arrived.
It was observed that some polling units have commenced voting while some others were yet to commence voting process as they await elections materials.
It was also observed that there is general peaceful atmosphere with security on ground in all the wards and units monitored.
However, voter apathy was also observed as those who came out to vote are few, as compared to the number of registered voters, while others went about their businesses.
Markets visited, including the ever-busy Mile 3 and Creek road markets, in Obio/Akpor and PHALGA, respectovely, showed some traders open for business.
