Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has restated that his primary mandate from President Bola Tinubu remains the re-establishment of state institutions and the restoration of democratic governance in the state.
Ibas made the declaration on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the Government House, Port Harcourt, during the presentation of the comprehensive report of the recently concluded local government elections.
He noted that the successful conduct and swearing-in of local government chairmen and their councils signified the fulfilment of the presidential directive handed to him on March 18, 2025.
“With the successful conduct and subsequent swearing in of the local government chairmen and their councils, I want to believe that we have achieved the mandate we were given,” Ibas said. “That also prepares the way for us to return the state to those elected to govern.”
The administrator commended the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for ensuring that the polls were peaceful, transparent, and devoid of intimidation. According to him, the exercise has attracted commendations both within and outside Rivers State.
“Elections have been conducted in the past with ups and downs. But for once, an election was conducted where nobody was harassed, where people went out freely to express themselves and to select whom they wanted as their leaders,” he said.
Ibas also expressed appreciation to the security agencies, government officials, and his team for their contributions to the success of the exercise, stressing that collaborative effort and synergy were essential to nation-building.
He assured that the state would build on the lessons learned from the polls to strengthen future democratic processes.
