Ibas: I Have Fulfilled Tinubu’s Directive on Rivers
Ibas: I Have Fulfilled Tinubu’s Directive on Rivers
Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has announced that he has “sufficiently delivered” on the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu, citing the restoration of democratic governance at the grassroots level.
Speaking on Friday at Government House, Port Harcourt, during the official presentation of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s report on the just-concluded local government elections, Ibas recalled Tinubu’s directive of March 18, 2025. The President had tasked him with stabilising the state, rebuilding its institutions, and ensuring a full return to democratic governance.
He noted that the successful conduct of the elections and the subsequent swearing-in of chairmen and councillors across the 23 local government areas marked the fulfilment of that assignment.
“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.
He commended RSIEC for what he described as a credible and transparent election, noting that the exercise was conducted without harassment, and voters freely expressed their choices.
The administrator assured the people that the government would review the RSIEC report and issue a white paper in due course, while also appreciating his team, security agencies, and state officials for their collective effort.
Earlier, while presenting the report, RSIEC Chairman Dr. Mike Odey hailed the election as a “historic milestone” for both Rivers State and Nigeria, noting that it was planned, conducted, and concluded within just 30 days — a feat unprecedented in the nation’s electoral history.
“The report outlines our modest achievements, the challenges we encountered, and offers key recommendations to further strengthen future elections in Rivers State,” Odey stated.
