The Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas, has praised the peaceful conduct of the local government elections held on Saturday, describing it as a crucial step towards restoring democratic governance at the grassroots level.

Vice Admiral Ibas monitored the elections in several local government areas and expressed satisfaction with the comportment of voters and election officials, noting that their conduct created a calm and secure environment for the polls. The administrator highlighted the voter turnout and the serenity at polling units as evidence of the people’s eagerness to participate in grassroots governance.

According to Vice Admiral Ibas, the situation reports from across the 23 local government areas aligned with his observations, indicating a largely incident-free exercise. “The process has been notably peaceful, from the significant turnout to the orderly conduct of both voters and election officials,” he stated. He added that the general situation across the state was calm and seamless, with no major negative reports received.

The successful conduct of the election reflects the people’s desire to elect leaders they can identify with at the local level. Vice Admiral Ibas emphasized that facilitating this foundational tier of democracy is a core objective of his mandate, which is to stabilize the state and return it to democratic rule. He observed that all indigenes of Rivers State want and deserve grassroots leadership they can call their own.

Some of the areas monitored by the administrator included communities in Emohua, Ahoada East, and Port Harcourt, where he observed proceedings and interacted with citizens. The outcome of the election is expected to be credible, with the administrator confident that the results will be a positive reflection of the state’s commitment to democratic governance.

The peaceful conduct of the elections is a significant step forward for Rivers State, which has been working towards stabilizing its democratic institutions. The election’s success demonstrates the collective desire for peace and normalcy in the state, and Vice Admiral Ibas’ efforts to facilitate grassroots democracy are a key part of this process. As the state moves forward, the focus will be on building on this momentum to ensure that democratic governance is firmly established at all levels.