The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) on Monday, presented certificates of return to the 23 chairmen-elect who were earlier declared winners of the recently concluded local government elections in the state.

Naijaonpoint reports that the certificate presentation was carried out at the RSIEC headquarters in Port Harcourt, and the ceremony was presided over by its chairman, Michael Odey.

As earlier reported, the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the chairmanship seats in 20 local government areas, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in three local government areas.

Speaking to Channels Television on Monday, the Chairman-elect of Akuku-Toru local government, Aboiya-a Bob-Fubara, promised to drive transformational development in the council.

“I will do my best to bring the necessary transformation to Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, projects that will impact my people positively,” he said.

On his part, Chairman-Elect of Asari Toru LGA, Onengiyeofori George, promised to consolidate on his works.

“It’s my second term and I wil continue in my works,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, has described the conduct of the August 30 local government election in Rivers State as a sham and a democratic sham.

According to him, the election is unconstitutional and unacceptable because it was conducted by an administration that was not democratically elected.

Speaking on Monday, during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Epelle added that the election was simply a political manoeuvre and a slap on the people of Rivers State.

“It’s unfortunate we’re living in interesting times, especially politically speaking, and what played out in River State, on Saturday, can only be described as unprecedented political manoeuvring, which is sort of a sham, and what looks like a democratic scam.

“I say that to buttress that point. I say that everything about this election that was held on Saturday was totally illegal and unconstitutional.

“The people of River State, we are smart, we’re civilised. They probably thought that people would take to the streets, and I did call on the people, especially the good youth of River State, not to fall into their trap.

“It is absolutely a slap on the people of River State, and we cannot continue the way we are going,” he said.