- Safiu Kehinde
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has on Monday issued Certificates of Return to the 23 chairmen and 319 Councillors who won in the just concluded Local Government council elections.
RISEC had on Saturday conducted a rerun election across the 23 LGAs months after the Supreme Court’s annulment of the October 2024 LG election organised by the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara.
Fubara, who was suspended for six months following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers over political unrest in the state, is however billed to return as his suspension period expires this month.
Ahead of his return, RISEC had conducted the election with the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning 20 councils polls while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured the remaining three.
Mr Michael Odey, the Commission’s Chairman, who issued the certificates in Port Harcourt, congratulated the winners and advised them to honor the trust reposed in them by the people.
He also urged aggrieved contestants to use legal windows available to present their grievances if they had need for that.
Speaking on behalf of the newly inaugurated Chairmen, Mr Alwell Ihunda, Chairman, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA), commended President Bola Tinubu and the Rivers State Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas for the peaceful exercise.
He also commended the security agencies for ensuring a smooth and hitch-free electoral process.
Some of the chairmen in separate interviews also promised to deliver dividends of democracy to their people.
Mr Lucky Otuo, Chairman, Andoni Local government Area, promised to ensure human capacity development and inclusivity in his administration.
Similarly, Mr Chukwu Ogbogu, Chairman, Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni LGA, said he would prioritise the youth and infrastructural development.