Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, yesterday, inaugurated the 23 newly elected local government chairpersons 24 hours after their election and charged them to see their position as an opportunity to work for the people at the grassroots level.
At the ceremony held at the Government House, Port Harcourt and witnessed by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and others, Fubara claimed there were plans to perpetrate violence against the elected officials when they resume their duties today and urged them to be patient and calculative.
“I’m aware that they are mobilising 20 people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow when you resume in your local government headquarters.Please if they are coming with violence, avoid them.
“The peace of this state is too important to us. Everybody knows what they are planning but please I want to beg everyone to follow my approach.
“At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promises to our people. We are going to lead them to the promised land.”
Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd), said the outcome of elections has made a profound statement that the ballot paper in the hands of the people is stronger than arms and ammunition.
Justice Enebeli said of the 319 political wards, the Action Peoples Party (APP) won 314 councillorship positions while other parties clinched a win for the remaining five positions.
RSIEC chairman provided the representation as Action Peoples Party (APP) winning 314 councillorship seats, All Progressives Congress (APC) securing the seat in Okrika Ward 3, Boot Party securing one seat in Ahoada West, Labour Party (LP) securing the seat in Ward 3, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) won the Ward 3 seat, and Young People’s Party (YPP) securing Ward 5 councillorship seat in three other local government areas.
“If I may say so without any sense of immodesty, the election that took place, conducted by us and the results make a vocal statement to Rivers State and the Nigerian nation that the ballot papers in the people’s hand are stronger than arms and ammunition.”
Justice Enebeli had presented Certificates of Return to the 23 Chairmen and Vice Chairmen-elect in compliance with Section 59 of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission Law No. 2 of 2018.
