Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially inaugurated 23 newly elected local government chairmen in Rivers State.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Sunday at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, just one day after the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted grassroots elections.
The event was attended by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum.
During the ceremony, Governor Fubara expressed his satisfaction with the successful conduct of the local government elections, noting that it took divine assistance to navigate the challenges of the preceding days. He also expressed appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to democratic principles.
Fubara reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP but emphasized that desperate times called for decisive actions. He explained that his administration, with the backing of the people, took necessary measures to safeguard the local government councils without resorting to confrontational tactics that could jeopardize the state’s assets or public order.
He urged the new chairmen to view themselves as servants of the people rather than rulers, emphasizing the need for development in the local government areas and reminding them that the people are the true foundation of political power.
Earlier on Sunday, RSIEC issued certificates of return to the newly elected chairmen. In an election marked by heightened tensions, the Action People’s Party (APP) secured 22 of the 23 chairmanship positions in the oil-rich state. However, the results for Etche Local Government Area were initially withheld due to ongoing collation.
On the following day, RSIEC announced Uzodinma Nwafor of the Action Alliance (AA) as the winner of the Etche chairmanship race. Despite challenges, the commission declared the election free, fair, and credible, with polls closing at 3 p.m. and a significant voter turnout.
RSIEC Chairman Adolphus Enebeli praised the patriotism of the voters and acknowledged the presence of observers, including members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), state electoral bodies, and the Nigerian Bar Association. He also noted that the commission had to adopt the “principle of bi-location” due to the unique circumstances surrounding the election process.