Wike Hints End to Rivers Emergency Rule As Council Polls Hold

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday said the successful conduct of the Rivers State local government elections had paved the way for an end to the emergency rule imposed on the state six months ago.

Wike, who spoke to journalists after casting his vote at Ward 9, Unit 007, Rumepirikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, expressed confidence that the elections had restored grassroots representation and would facilitate the return of democratic governance.

“With this election, the coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted,” Wike declared.

“The local governments now have representatives, and by September 18 when the emergency rule expires, the governor and state assembly will also return to their constitutional roles. We are good to go.”

The FCT minister described the exercise as peaceful, dismissing fears of voter apathy and violence. “You have not heard of ballot box snatching or violence. Electoral materials are here, and people are casting their votes freely,” he said.

The polls were conducted months after the Supreme Court nullified a previous exercise carried out by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.

President Bola Tinubu had in March declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state following a protracted political standoff between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The President suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.

Weeks later, Wike, Fubara, and key lawmakers met with Tinubu in Abuja, where the FCT minister announced that the feud had been resolved.

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