Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), the sole administrator of Rivers State, has officially declared that the mandate bestowed upon him by President Bola Tinubu has been “sufficiently achieved.” This pronouncement came during a significant ceremony at the Government House, Port Harcourt, where the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) presented its comprehensive report on the recently concluded local government elections. According to Ibas, the peaceful execution of the polls and the subsequent swearing-in of democratically elected chairmen and councillors across all 23 local government areas represent a direct fulfillment of the presidential directive issued on March 18, 2025.

Highlighting the core of his assignment, Ibas stated, “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.” He affirmed that with the successful conduct and swearing-in of the local government officials, the assigned mandate has been decisively accomplished. Ibas also took the opportunity to commend RSIEC for its role in organizing what he lauded as a fair, credible, and transparent electoral process, which has garnered widespread praise both within and outside the state. He emphasized the unprecedented nature of the election, where citizens freely exercised their right to choose their leaders without harassment, attributing this success to the peaceful and enabling environment collectively fostered.

The sole administrator assured that his administration would meticulously review the RSIEC report and commit to issuing an official government white paper in due course. He extended profound appreciation to his dedicated team, security agencies, and state officials for their collaborative spirit and synergy, recognizing their collective effort as essential for nation-building. Earlier in the ceremony, Dr. Mike Odey, the chairman of RSIEC, presented the detailed report, describing the election as a “historic achievement” for both Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole. Dr. Odey elaborated that the document comprehensively accounts for every stage of the electoral process, from the initial notice of election and stakeholder engagements to polling, result collation, and the final declaration of winners.

Dr. Odey further revealed that the report not only highlights the Commission’s modest achievements and challenges but also provides crucial recommendations aimed at strengthening future elections in Rivers State. He underscored that RSIEC operated strictly in accordance with the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law of 2018 (as amended), attributing the election’s success to robust collaboration with political parties, civil society organizations, and security agencies. Moreover, Dr. Odey expressed the Commission’s gratitude to the Administrator for providing “adequate and sufficient” funding, which facilitated what he termed an unprecedented feat in Nigerian electoral management. He proudly declared that in the history of election management in Nigeria, no institution, whether national or sub-national, has ever organized, coordinated, conducted, and supervised a complete electoral process within a remarkable period of 30 days, a testament to the efficiency and commitment displayed by RSIEC.