Ibas swears in 23 newly elected LG Chairmen, urges reform-driven leadership

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has sworn in the 23 newly elected local government chairmen following last Saturday’s council election.

The chairmen were earlier presented with their certificates of return by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on Monday afternoon.

Speaking during the inauguration at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Ibas urged the new council bosses to shun self-interest and embrace transparency, accountability, and reform-driven governance. He described the event as a major step towards restoring full democratic governance after months of political instability that prompted a state of emergency declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on March 18, 2025.

Ibas hailed the conduct of the elections as credible and peaceful, crediting the resilience of Rivers residents for making it possible. He reminded the new chairmen that their victory was a call to service, not entitlement, and tasked them with mastering the law, prioritising security, and driving grassroots development.

The Sole Administrator called for collaboration with traditional rulers, security agencies, and community leaders to ensure stability, noting that peace was essential for progress. He also encouraged them to strengthen local economies through small business support, infrastructure projects, and educational investments.