New Chairmen Take Over Rivers Councils

The recently inaugurated local government chairmen in Rivers State have assumed duties in the various council headquarters and have begun the appointments of aides and supervisors.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), had on Monday sworn in the 23 newly elected Local Government Chairmen with a charge to embrace transparency, accountability, and grassroots development.
The ceremony, held at Government House, Port Harcourt, signaled another step in the state’s return to democratic governance after months of federal intervention following a breakdown of law and order.
Ibas reminded the council chairmen that public office was a trust, not an entitlement for them to personally enjoy. “It is not a call to self-interest, but to selfless service,” he declared, stressing that leadership must move beyond patronage politics and deliver tangible services to citizens.
The Administrator commended the peaceful conduct of the August 30 local government elections, saying the elections marked a decisive step toward restoring constitutional order in the state.
He outlined his expectations of the new chairmen, urging them to acquaint themselves with the Constitution and statutes guiding local government administration; work with traditional rulers, security agencies, and community leaders to ensure peace; support small businesses, improve infrastructure, and invest in education; and cooperate with the ongoing biometric enrollment of council staff to strengthen payroll and planning.
Ibas also expressed appreciation to the outgoing Council Administrators for holding the fort during a difficult period.
With the swearing-in, the state, he said, has taken “a definitive stride toward the full restoration of democratic governance and the return of power to the grassroots.”
Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISIEC) had earlier on issued certificates of return to the winners of Saturday’s local government elections, formally confirming their victories amid continuing debate over the legitimacy of the polls.
Chairman of the commission, Dr. Michael Odey, who presented the certificates at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, declared the exercise a “peaceful demonstration of grassroots democracy” despite the visibly low voter turnout and criticisms from opposition groups.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged dominant, winning 20 of the 23 local government areas, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three councils — Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni.
Prominent winners include Dr. Chidi Lloyd (Emohua), Bariere Thomas (Khana), Obarilomate Ollor (Eleme), and Allwell Ihunda (Port Harcourt City). In Obio/Akpor, PDP’s Gift Worlu polled 328,823 votes to defeat his APC challenger, while APC’s Okechukwu Akara secured Oyigbo with 101,495 votes.
Saturday’s election was marked by logistical delays, incomplete voter registers in several wards, and sparse participation by residents. Voting began late in some areas, including Etche and Obio/Akpor, and results were not declared at polling units but rather at local government collation centres before transmission to Port Harcourt for official announcement.
Civil society groups and opposition parties had earlier described the election as unconstitutional, citing the Supreme Court’s ruling requiring 90 days’ notice before local government polls. They also questioned the fairness of an exercise limited to candidates of the two parties aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
Nevertheless, the State Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, commended the process, saying it reflected Rivers people’s readiness to return to grassroots governance after six months of emergency rule. “Facilitating this foundational tier of democracy is a core objective of my mandate,” he told reporters.
Wike, whose loyalists secured sweeping victories, hailed the outcome as an important step towards restoring democratic structures in the state. “By September 18, the governor and assembly will resume their duties, and now we also have councils in place,” he said after casting his ballot in Rumuepirikom.
Suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, however, did not participate in the election and was absent from his Opobo polling unit.
RISIEC released detailed results showing APC dominance in areas such as Khana (156,027 votes for Thomas), Emohua (114,380 for Lloyd), and Gokana (96,478 for Dekor Confidence). PDP’s strongholds were consolidated in the metropolitan councils, with Allwell Ihunda recording 235,054 votes in Port Harcourt City.
Meanwhile, the newly inaugurated Chairmen have assumed duties at their various local government headquarters and have begun constituting their cabinets.
In Eleme, the Chairman, Chief Obariollomate Ollor, reappointed Mr. Joseph Kattey as the Secretary of the council.
A statement issued by the Chief Secretary to the Chairman, Mr. Ate Chinwi, listed the other appointments as follows: Bright Mgbere, Executive Assistant on Operations and Services to the Executive Chairman; Mr. Ate Chinwi, Chief Press Secretary; Hon. Robert Ogosu, Executive Assistant, Finance and Administration; Comrade Gregory Ogosu, Chief Security Officer; Hon. Peter Chutte, Chief of Staff; and Comrade Frank Ejire, Chief Protocol Officer.