By IDNN Politics Desk
Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has sworn in newly elected chairmen for the state’s 23 local government councils following Saturday’s controversial elections widely condemned by opposition figures.
The ceremony, held at Government House, Port Harcourt, confirmed victories for candidates largely seen as loyalists of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. Official results showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning 20 councils, with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) retaining only three.
Ibas, in a statement through his media aide Hector Igbikiowubo, urged the new chairmen to embrace transparent and accountable leadership.
“This victory is not a prize to be enjoyed. It is a burden to be carried. It is not an entitlement, but a duty. It is not a call to self-interest, but to selfless service,” Ibas declared.
He insisted the exercise restored constitutional order after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, 2025, amid the Fubara–Wike political crisis.
But the polls sparked fierce criticism. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar dismissed the elections as a sham, describing them as an “awful absurdity and a travesty to the very notion of elective democracy.”
Atiku, in a post on X, accused the “occupation government” in Rivers of betraying democratic principles.
The APC responded with a blistering counterattack. National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka accused Atiku of stoking unrest to mask his party’s poor showing.
“Atiku’s tirade is no more than a smokescreen meant to stoke tension. Rivers people have rejected his unwise counsel. He is a forlorn serial contender with an empty record,” Morka said.
The APC hailed its sweeping victory as a vote of confidence in Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, tasking the new chairmen to prioritise grassroots development.
The dispute underscores Rivers State’s central role in national politics. With Wike consolidating influence at the grassroots and Atiku sharpening opposition attacks, analysts warn the state could again become a flashpoint ahead of 2027.
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