Bauchi Governor Present as Fubara Swears In 22 APP Chiefs, Others As LG Bosses
In Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara swore in 23 newly elected local government chairmen.
The process, held on Sunday at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, the state capital, follows a grassroots election conducted by the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State’s governor and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, attended the event.
The governor expressed his satisfaction at the success of the LG election, adding he needed God’s support to get through the last few days.
He also praised President Bola Tinubu for being a Democrat.
Fubara, who told Mohammed that he remains a member of the PDP, stated that a desperate circumstance necessitates extreme measures. According to him, what his administration accomplished with public backing was to save the local government councils.
He stated that he would not interfere with his opponent’s efforts to defend the state’s assets and maintain peace and order.
He instructed the new chairman to view themselves as servants, not monarchs.
He remarked that local government regions deserve growth and tasked them with serving the people who form the true political structure.
Earlier on Sunday, the RSIEC presented certificates of return to the newly elected local government chairman.
After a tense exercise, the Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 of the 23 chairmanship posts in the oil-rich state.
However, because the collation is still underway, the state electoral umpire has deferred the release of results for the Etche Local Government Area (LGA).
When the collations are completed, the RSIEC chairman, Adolphus Enebeli, who declared the results on Saturday, will announce the results for the 319 councillorship seats and the Etche Chairmanship position.
However, a day after the election, the RSIEC named Uzodinma Nwafor of the Action Alliance (AA) the winner in Etche Local Government Area.
He described the election as free, fair, and credible, despite the odds. He claimed that the polls closed at 3 p.m., with a high voter participation.
Enebeli praised the patriotism of those who went out to vote.
Members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), chairmen of the state’s independent electoral bodies across the country, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association, who functioned as poll observers, witnessed the results being declared.
He claimed that the committee “adopted the principle of bilocation because of the exigencies” in which they found themselves.