With the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State set to expire on September 18, Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) says he has met President Bola Tinubu’s directive to restore order and democracy.
Ibas, who took charge on March 18 after Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the 32-member House of Assembly, declared yesterday in Port Harcourt that the state is now stable. He spoke while receiving the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) report on the recently concluded local government elections.
“Mr. President’s mandate was clear: stabilise the state, rebuild its institutions, and return Rivers to democratic governance,” Ibas said. “With peaceful elections and the swearing-in of new chairmen and councillors across 23 LGAs, we have achieved that mandate.”
Tinubu had declared emergency rule after a bitter feud between Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike paralysed governance in the oil-rich state. The president cited political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats when he installed Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as sole administrator.
The August 30 local government elections, described as fair and credible, are seen as a turning point in the crisis. RSIEC Chairman, Dr. Mike Odey, called the polls a “historic achievement” and praised Rivers people for their peaceful participation. He said the commission’s detailed report outlines successes, challenges, and recommendations for future elections.
Ibas promised to issue a government white paper on the report and thanked security agencies and civil society groups for their cooperation. “For once, an election was held where nobody was harassed and people freely chose their leaders,” he said.
The emergency rule officially ends on September 18, unless President Tinubu decides to extend it.
