The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has described Saturday’s local government elections in the state as peaceful and orderly, noting that it marked a decisive step toward restoring democratic governance at the grassroots.
Ibas, who monitored the exercise across some local government areas, including Emohua, Ahoada East, and Port Harcourt, said the comportment of voters and election officials contributed to a calm and secure atmosphere.
Speaking with journalists on Saturday, Ibas said, “I am very happy with what I have witnessed today.
“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.”
The administrator added that reports from the 23 local government areas were consistent with his observations, stressing that the election reflected the people’s desire to elect leaders they could identify with at the grassroots.
“Certainly, all indigenes of Rivers State want and deserve grassroots leadership they can call their own. That is what this process represents.
“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,” he said.
Recall that in February, the Supreme Court nullified the local government elections earlier held on October 5, 2024, under the administration of the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
