The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has indicated that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, may be reinstated on September 18.
He added that the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s local government elections in the state has created conditions for lifting the state of emergency.
Wike made the remarks after casting his ballot at about 11 a.m. in Unit 007, Ward 9, Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, during the polls organised by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The elections, which were held across 319 wards in 23 local government areas, were largely peaceful but marred by low voter turnout, late commencement of voting, and complaints over missing result sheets. Many polling units in Port Harcourt and other urban centres recorded sparse participation, while turnout was relatively stronger in some rural communities.
Observers also faulted the non-deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), raising questions about transparency. In several LGAs, including Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt City and Emohua, voting materials did not arrive until after 10 a.m., while some electoral officers cited logistical constraints at Registration Area Centres.
Despite these shortcomings, key actors within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed satisfaction with the process. Chairmanship candidate for Obio/Akpor, Hon. Dr. Gift Worlu, described the exercise as a reflection of grassroots support for the PDP. “It came late, but it came. Our people are out here exercising their civic duty, and this is evidence that our campaign resonated,” he said.
Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, also lauded RSIEC for conducting what he considered a credible election. “The process is orderly and peaceful. I have seen no evidence of intimidation or malpractice,” he noted.
Port Harcourt City chairmanship candidate, Sir Allwell Ihunda, dismissed claims of voter apathy, attributing his confidence in victory to his performance in office. “We executed projects across all 20 wards, and the people know our record,” he stated.
Reflecting on the broader political context, Wike expressed optimism that the conclusion of the elections signaled a return to stability in the state. “There has been no violence, no ballot box snatching. People are casting their votes peacefully, and materials are present. With local government leadership now in place, the state of emergency can be lifted,” he said.
However, Wike raised concerns over RSIEC’s failure to utilise BVAS, even as he maintained that the relatively calm atmosphere was evidence of a maturing democratic culture in Rivers.
