Ibok-Ete Ibas, the administrator of Rivers State, has said Saturday’s local government elections were peaceful and orderly.
Gatekeepers News reports that he noted that the exercise marks an important step toward restoring democratic governance at the grassroots level.
Ibas, who monitored voting across several LGAs, including Emohua, Ahoada East, and Port Harcourt, told journalists that the conduct of voters and officials ensured a calm atmosphere. He said reports from all 23 local government areas were in line with his observations.
He said, “I am very happy with what I have witnessed today, the process has been notably peaceful, from the significant turnout to the orderly conduct of both voters and election officials.”
“I am confident that at the end of the day, we will have a credible set of results that we will all be proud of as a state.”
“Generally, the situation has been calm and seamless across the state. We have not received any major negative reports, which is a testament to the collective desire for peace and normalcy.”
According to him, the election demonstrates the people’s aspiration to elect leaders they can identify with at the local level.
He said, “Certainly, all indigenes of Rivers state want and deserve grassroots leadership they can call their own. That is what this process represents.”
“Facilitating this foundational tier of democracy is a core objective of my mandate: to put the state back on a stable, democratic path and empower its people.”
