Governor Siminalayi Fubara has officially sworn in 23 newly elected local government chairmen in Rivers State, following the recent grassroots election conducted by the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Sunday.
The event was graced by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also serves as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum.
Expressing his satisfaction with the success of the local government elections, Governor Fubara said, “It takes the help of God to survive the past few days.”
In his speech, Governor Fubara extended his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, acknowledging him as a democrat. He also reassured Governor Mohammed of his continued loyalty to the PDP but hinted at the challenges his administration has faced, saying, “A desperate situation requires desperate action.”
According to him, the efforts made by his administration, with the support of the people, were necessary to salvage the local government councils.
Fubara also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and avoiding confrontations, particularly when it comes to safeguarding the state’s assets.
“I would not go in the ways of my opponent by being confrontational to protect the assets of the state and cause a breakdown of law and order,” he remarked.
He advised the newly sworn-in chairmen to adopt a servant-leader mindset, reminding them that the focus should be on grassroots development.
“The local government areas need development, and I charge you to work for the people who are the real political structure,” Fubara said.
Earlier that day, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) issued certificates of return to the newly elected local government chairmen.
The Action People’s Party (APP) secured 22 out of the 23 chairmanship positions in the state, though the announcement for the Etche Local Government Area was delayed due to ongoing collation.
A day later, RSIEC declared Uzodinma Nwafor of the Action Alliance (AA) as the winner of the election in Etche Local Government Area. Despite the challenges faced during the election, RSIEC Chairman Adolphus Enebeli described the polls as “free, fair, and credible.” He noted that voting closed at 3 pm and was marked by a significant voter turnout.
Enebeli also praised the patriotic spirit of Rivers residents who participated in the election and stated that the results were observed by members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), chairmen of state electoral bodies, and representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association.
He explained that the commission had to “adopt the principle of bi-location because of the exigencies” they encountered during the process.
In conclusion, the governor encouraged the chairmen to lead with humility and focus on delivering services that benefit the people.
He reminded them that their leadership role is to serve, not to dominate, in their respective local government areas.
