Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has sworn in the newly elected chairpersons of the 23 local government councils in the state.
The swearing-in ceremony held on Sunday at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt, saw 22 chairmen from the Action Peoples Party (APP) and one from the Action Alliance officially inaugurated into office.
The Rivers State local government election was held on Saturday across the state.
Results from the state Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, said the Action Peoples Party won 22 out of the 23 local governments.
The Chief Election Officer of RSIEC, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, disclosed this on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
While declaring the results, Enebeli said the announcement was suspended in Etche Local Government Area because the results collation was ongoing.
Enebeli clarified that the result of Etche LGA and the 319 councillorship positions would be announced upon the conclusion of the collation.
RSIEC later declared Uzordinma Nwafor of the Action Alliance winner of the poll in Etche Local Government Area.
According to the results, the APP won 314 wards, while the All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Young People’s Party (YPP) each claimed one seat.
This outcome confirmed that the APC did, in fact, participated in the October 5th local government elections, despite earlier statements by the party’s caretaker committee chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, suggesting otherwise.
Notably, before the election, Chief Emeka Beke, the factional chairman of the Rivers APC, affirmed the party’s readiness, stating, “As the authentic chairman of APC in Rivers State, we are fully prepared for the election.”
Meanwhile, Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (rtd), has congratulated Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State on the successful conduct of the local government elections.
In a statement issued yesterday, General Minimah commended the governor for ensuring that the elections were held smoothly, describing the process as a significant milestone for both the state and the “Rivers State First” agenda of Governor Fubara’s administration.
He urged the governor to remain resolute in advancing the state’s development and also extended congratulations to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), political parties, and all candidates for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
General Minimah called on the newly elected officials to prioritize the welfare of the people and encouraged the residents of Rivers State to continue supporting the governor for the overall progress of the state.