Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, on Sunday, presided over the swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected chairmen of the 23 local government councils in the state.
The exercise was held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, hours after the chairmen were issued certificates of return by the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Adolphus Enebeli.
The event was attended by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who is also the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum.
The governor expressed joy at the success of the LG election, saying it takes the help of God to survive the past few days.
He also appreciated President Bola Tinubu for being a democrat.
Fubara, who assured Mohammed that he is still a member of PDP, however, said that a desperate situation requires desperate action. According to him, what his administration did with the support of the people was to salvage the local government councils.
He said he would not go in the ways of his opponent by being confrontational to protect the assets of the state and cause a breakdown of law and order.
He advised the new chairmen to see themselves as servants and not emperors, saying the local government areas need development and charged them to work for the people who are the real political structure.
Results from RSIEC said the Action Peoples Party won 22 out of the 23 local governments.
While declaring the results, Enebeli said the announcement was suspended in Etche Local Government Area because the results collation was ongoing.
Enebeli clarified that the result of Etche LGA and the 319 councillorship positions would be announced upon the conclusion of the collation.
RSIEC later declared Uzordinma Nwafor of the Action Alliance winner of the poll in Etche Local Government Area.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE