Rivers: “I have fulfilled Tinubu’s mandate”, Ibas boldly declares

Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), the administrator of Rivers State, has stated that the goal he was assigned by President Bola Tinubu has been “sufficiently achieved” since democratic government has been restored at the local level.

Vice Admiral Ibas made this disclosure at the official presentation of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s report on the recently concluded local government elections on Friday at Government House in Port Harcourt.

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He recalled that he had been instructed by Tinubu on March 18, 2025, to stabilise the state, restore its institutions, and bring Rivers back to full democratic administration.

According to the administrator, that mandate was completed with the effective election of chairman and council members in each of the 23 local governments.

“Mr. President’s mandate to me was clear: to stabilise 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,” Ibas stated.

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He applauded RSIEC for holding what he called a transparent and legitimate election, pointing out that voters were free to voice their preferences and that there was no harassment during the process.

In addition to thanking his team, security agencies, and state authorities for their combined efforts, the administrator gave the public the assurance that the government will examine the RSIEC findings and release a white paper when it was ready.

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Delivering the report earlier, RSIEC Chairman, Dr Mike Odey, described the election as a “historic achievement” for Rivers and for the country, stressing that it was organised, coordinated, and concluded within 30 days — an unprecedented record in Nigerian electoral history.