The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has issued certificates of return to newly elected local government chairmen.
Sunday’s event comes a day after the commission’s official declaration of results.
This followed the conclusion of the keenly contested election, which, despite initial controversies and threats, was conducted and adjudged to be largely peaceful across the 23 local government areas of the state.
The commission had earlier declared the results for 22 chairmanship seats on Saturday evening, the same day the poll was conducted, suspending the announcement for Etche Local Government Area and all 319 councilorship seats.
Before issuing the certificates, the Chairman of the Commission, Adolphus Enebeli, announced the pending results.
After an exercise held amid heightened tension, the Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 chairmanship positions out of 23 in the oil-rich state.
In variance from the regular practice of one party-takes-it-all, the Chairman announced Action Alliance candidate, Uzodinma Nwafor, as the winner.
He also announced the results for the 3I9 wards councilorship, with the APP maintaining dominance with 314 seats, while the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Boot Party clinching one seat each in Okirika, Asari-Toru, Eleme, Degema, and Ahoada West Local Government Areas.
The APC won the councilorship in Okirika Ward 3, the Boot Party in Ahoada-West Ward 8, the Labour Party in Asari-Toru ward 3, the SDP in Eleme ward 3 and the YPP in Degema ward 5.
Speaking after the announcement, Enebeli commended the peaceful conduct of the electorate during the election on Saturday.
He said the peaceful exercise in the absence of police protection demonstrated that “ballot papers in the hands of the electorates are stronger than arms and ammunition”.
He then proceeded to present certificates of return to all the 23 chairmen-elect.
With the certificates of return now in their possession, the chairmen are expected to be sworn in by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to enable them to assume office and begin their three-year tenure.
