Describing the ceremony as a proud moment for Nigeria’s democracy, Odey urged the winners to lead with humility and transparency.
The 23 chairmen-elect and 319 ward councillors-elect in Rivers have been issued their certificates of return.
Recall that the elected officers emerged winners of the August 30, 2025, council elections.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC issued Certificates of Return on Monday.
Speaking before the presentation, RSIEC Chairman, Michael Odey, reminded the newly elected officials that the certificate was not just a symbol of victory, but a mandate for service.
Describing the ceremony as a proud moment for Nigeria’s democracy, Odey urged the winners to lead with humility and transparency, stressing that the “winner-takes-all” attitude has no place in local politics.
He commended stakeholders, including community leaders, security agencies, civil society organisations, and the media, for their vigilance and dedication, noting that their collective efforts ensured a peaceful, credible, and orderly process.
Odey also urged the officials to continue upholding the code of conduct.
He encouraged aggrieved parties and candidates to take advantage of available legal channels to seek redress, assuring that the commission will conduct a post-election review to consolidate lessons learned and improve future elections.