Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has described Saturday’s local government (LG) election as peaceful and orderly, calling it a decisive step toward restoring democratic governance at the grassroots.
Ibas, who monitored the exercise across several areas including Emohua, Ahoada East, and Port Harcourt, said the conduct of voters and officials created a calm and secure atmosphere for the polls.
Speaking with journalists, the administrator noted that reports from all 23 LGAs aligned with his own observations, pointing to a largely incident-free process.
“I am very happy with what I have witnessed today,” he said. “The process has been notably peaceful, from the significant turnout to the orderly conduct of both voters and election officials. I am confident that at the end of the day, we will have a credible set of results that we will all be proud of as a state.
“Generally, the situation has been calm and seamless across the state. We have not received any major negative reports, which is a testament to the collective desire for peace and normalcy.”
Ibas stressed that the election reflects the people’s aspiration to elect leaders they can identify with at the grassroots, noting that it aligns with his mandate to stabiliss the state and return it to democratic rule.
“Certainly, all indigenes of Rivers State want and deserve grassroots leadership they can call their own. That is what this process represents,” he said. “Facilitating this foundational tier of democracy is a core objective of my mandate: to put the state back on a stable, democratic path and empower its people.”
Saturday’s election followed a series of political and legal setbacks in the state. In February, the Supreme Court nullified the October 5, 2024 LG polls held under the administration of then-governor Siminalayi Fubara, ruling that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had failed to meet the requirements of Section 150(3) of the Electoral Act before conducting the election.
The following month, President Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and the state legislature for six months over the escalating political crisis. He subsequently appointed Ibas as sole administrator, with a mandate limited to six months.
In July, RSIEC rescheduled the LG elections for August 30, setting the stage for Saturday’s vote.
With calm largely prevailing across the state during the polls, Ibas expressed optimism that the exercise would help lay the foundation for Rivers’ democratic recovery.
Melissa Enoch
Live Reporting
18:00 Voting Has Ended
Voting has ended in all 23 LGAs of Rivers State. Collation of results ongoing at headquarters of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
Results results may be released Saturday night or early Sunday morning.
17:30 Martin Amaewhule Voting
Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, casting his vote in unit 15, Ward 1 Obio/Akpor Local government area of Rivers State.
17:15 Magnus Abe Voting
Senator Magnus Abe casting his vote at ward 16 Bera, in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
17:00 RSIEC Chairman Unsure When Winners Will Be Announced
Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Dr Michael Odey, says while results will be counted at the polling units, winners will only be announced at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission office after final collation, which could be Sunday.
13:00 FCT Minister Wike Votes, Hails Turnout
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike exercised his franchise in the ongoing local government election in Rivers State, expressing satisfaction with the turnout and emphasising the importance of credible grassroots leadership.
Speaking after casting his ballot at Ward 9, Unit 9 in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Port Harcourt, Wike said, “I’m very happy with the turnout of people. I’ve got a lot of support from the rural areas. And the people came out very well to participate in this election. So I’m very happy.”
12:30 Voting Continues Despite Apathy
Our correspondent Blessing Ibunge reports that voting has commenced at majority of the various wards and polling units across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, amidst voter apathy.
As at the time of filing this report, in LGAs monitored including PHALGA, Obio/Akpor, Ogu/Bolo, Khana, Eleme, Oyigbo, Akuku-Toru, Ahoada East, Okrika, Tai, Gokana, Abua/Odual and Degema local government areas, voting commenced between 10.30am and 11.30 am in polling units where materials have arrived.
It was observed that some polling units have commenced voting while some others were yet to commence voting process as they await elections materials.
It was also observed that there is general peaceful atmosphere with security on ground in all the wards and units monitored.
However, voter apathy was also observed as those who came out to vote are few, as compared to the number of registered voters, while others went about their businesses.
Markets visited, including the ever-busy Mile 3 and Creek road markets, in Obio/Akpor and PHALGA, respectovely, showed some traders open for business.
Also, in majority of the streets and major roads, young people of voting age were seen playing football.
It was gathered that voting materials were moved from the three rack centres in the three senatorial districts to the various local government headquarters on Friday evening.
Participating parties include; Accord Party (AC), Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Boot Party (BP), Labour Party (LP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Youth Progressive Party (YPP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
11:00 Voting ongoing at Ward 18, Khana LGA
Pictures show councillorship candidate for Ward 18, Khana LGA, Mr James Nubaridoo Darlington, others casting vote in their unit in Duburo Community, Khana LGA, Rivers State.
10:30 Accreditation Commences
Accreditation has started in polling centres where materials have arrived. While the accreditation has started, some shops are seen open and majority of residents are going about their businesses.
Accreditation has started at Ward 11 PHALGA, Ward 16 Obio/Akpor.
Materials arrived at Ward 11, Mile One PHALGA, Ojukwu field at about 9.35am.
Rivers LG Elections: Voters Head to Polls Amid Lawsuits
Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has appealed to all Rivers people to conduct themselves peacefully during Saturday’s controversial local government elections.
Some prominent Rivers indigenes had earlier asked President Bola Tinubu to halt the elections. Five others even sued the Federal Government, Ibas, and the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to stop the polls.
But speaking on Friday , Ibas assured residents that the government was ready. “All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure a safe and peaceful election,” he said. He urged citizens to “please go out tomorrow (today) and exercise your civic responsibility without fear or intimidation.”
Ibas made the appeal at Government House, Port Harcourt, when he met leaders of organised labour and Local Government Administrators. He reinforced his administration’s commitment to transparency, staff welfare, and the successful conclusion of the ongoing staff verification exercise.
“Tomorrow’s elections are an important step towards restoring democratic governance at the grassroots. But leaders can only be held accountable when there is clarity on the human and material resources available to them,” he explained.
On staff verification, he disclosed: “37,703 state staff have been verified, against a previous figure of over 43,000. 19,186 state pensioners verified, compared to over 25,500. 2,004 local government pensioners verified out of over 2,600. 8,000 local government staff verified across seven LGAs, including Obio/Akpor, Bonny, Etche, and Degema.”
Ibas gave a deadline of September 4, 2025, for completion of all local government staff verification, vowing to deploy state resources to achieve it.
On arrears, he admitted the situation was “deeply regrettable,” noting that only March 2025 arrears had been cleared due to record challenges. He warned after discovering an overpayment of N117 million in the March schedule: “There must be consequences. Such malpractice is a crime against colleagues whose bereaved families are left in pain and penury.”
Labour leaders welcomed the exercise. Rivers NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwu, said it has “fostered efficiency, transparency, and professionalism.” TUC Chairman, Christopher Amadi, praised the fact that “the exercise did not disrupt salary payments.” Chairman of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Emecheta Chuku, admitted there was initial skepticism but commended the effort, saying it was aimed at “cleaning up the system by identifying impostors.”
Meanwhile, Security operatives staged patrols across Port Harcourt and Obio/Akporon Friday to reassure residents of safety before, during, and after the polls.
RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey, said the commission was ready. He disclosed: “Movement of non-sensitive materials started on Thursday, while sensitive materials were moved to LGAs on Friday under security escort. Adhoc staff were adequately trained and the commission is poised to deliver free, fair, credible and transparent elections.”
The State Commissioner of Police also reassured citizens: “These operations reflect a broader strategy to dismantle criminal networks and ensure public confidence in law enforcement agencies, especially as it concerns the upcoming chairmanship/councillorship election.” He appealed to the public to partner with security agencies by providing credible information.
Blessing Ibunge
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