Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has officially declared the successful fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s emergency mandate, marking a pivotal moment in the restoration of democratic governance across the state.
Speaking at the Government House in Port Harcourt during the formal presentation of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) report on the August 30 local government elections, Ibas stated:
“Mr. President's mandate to me was clear: to stabilize 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.”
The elections, conducted across all 23 Local Government Areas, saw the All Progressives Congress (APC) secure 20 chairmanship seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won three. RSIEC Chairman Dr. Mike Odey described the exercise as a “historic achievement,” noting it was organised and concluded within 30 days—an unprecedented feat in Nigeria’s electoral history.
Ibas commended RSIEC for ensuring a credible and transparent process, free from intimidation or harassment, and praised the peaceful participation of Rivers residents. He also announced that the government would review the RSIEC report and issue a white paper to guide future democratic processes.
The declaration comes as Rivers State approaches the end of a six-month emergency rule declared by President Tinubu on March 18, following a political crisis that led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly.