The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (Rtd.), has officially sworn in the newly elected chairmen of the state’s 23 local government councils.
The ceremony, which held on Monday at the Government House in Port Harcourt, came shortly after the chairmen were presented with their certificates of return by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The swearing-in followed Saturday’s local government elections conducted by RSIEC across more than 6,000 polling units in the state.
According to the electoral body, the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured a landmark victory, winning 20 out of the 23 chairmanship seats.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched only two chairmanship positions, while one council went to an independent candidate backed by grassroots stakeholders.
In the councillorship races, APC maintained its dominance by winning in 20 local government areas, with the PDP picking up just three.
READ ALSO: Wike Backs Rivers LG Polls, Labels Atiku, Obi Politically Ignorant
This marks the first time the APC has achieved such dominance in Rivers politics since the return of democracy in 1999, a development analysts say could alter the state’s political dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Announcing the results at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt on Sunday, RSIEC Chairman, Dr. Michael Odey, confirmed that no other political parties participated in the exercise.
He also disclosed that some of the elected chairmen are returning for a second term, having previously served under the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike.
Turnout was mixed across the state. While several rural communities witnessed enthusiastic participation, urban areas such as Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Akukutoro saw large crowds at some polling units but also recorded low voter presence in others.
The newly sworn-in chairmen are expected to assume office immediately and begin discharging their duties at the grassroots level.