The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has presented certificates of return to the 23 elected council chairmen in the state following the August 30, 2025, local government election.
The certificates were handed over by the Chairman of RSIEC, Michael Odey, who urged the elected officials to govern with humility and integrity.
During the ceremony, Odey emphasised the importance of uprightness and humility in governance, encouraging the chairmen to prioritise the needs and welfare of their constituents. “We urge you to govern with humility and sustain your electoral victory with uprightness,” he said.
performance, so Odey assured that the commission would conduct a post-mortem analysis of its performance to identify areas for improvement. “We will carry out a post-mortem of our performance so as to learn from our mistakes for a better process next time,” he said.
Speaking shortly after receiving their certificate of return, the Chairman-elect of Port Harcourt City LGA, Allwell Ihunda, on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to the electorate for entrusting them with the responsibility of leading their respective local government areas.
He promised to ensure that the people feel the dividends of democracy through effective governance and development initiatives.
He said, “Today, we are glad to be here and indeed thankful to God Almighty for making today possible in the history of Rivers State. On behalf of my colleagues, we want to thank President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace to Rivers State and also we thank the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas for facilitating the peace that has been restored in the state. In ensuring that democracy is returned to the local government.
“Therefore, we want to assure the people of Rivers State that, having been elected to represent them in our various Local Governments, we are going to drive the dividends of democracy to the grassroots. And thereby I assure you all that the peace that has been restored will continue through the process that has been trying to lay.”
In a related development, the Rivers State coalition of political parties commended RSIEC for conducting a crisis-free exercise. The coalition’s praise underscores the commission’s efforts to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
The presentation of certificates of return marks a significant milestone in the transition of power to the newly elected officials. As they assume office, they will be expected to deliver on their campaign promises and meet the expectations of the people who elected them.
