The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced that the suspended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is expected to return to office on September 18.
Wike stated that the successful conduct of the local government elections has paved the way for the lifting of the state of emergency in Rivers.
Wike made the announcement after casting his vote in the local government elections organised by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The elections took place across the state’s 319 wards and 23 local government areas.
Despite Wike’s positive remarks, the polls were characterised by several issues, including widespread voter apathy and logistical problems.
Many polling units, particularly in urban areas, saw low voter turnout, and electoral materials, including original result sheets, were delayed or missing.
Electoral officers faced challenges with manpower and distribution, causing voting to start late in areas like Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City.
Additionally, the elections were conducted without the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), a point of criticism from some observers.
Many residents disregarded the police-imposed restriction on movement, with some markets operating as usual.
In several locations, including parts of Emohua, Ikwerre, and even the suspended governor’s home LGA of Opobo/Nkoro, voters and party agents raised concerns about the absence of original result sheets.
Despite these challenges, some candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed satisfaction with the process.
Also see: Rivers LG Polls: Mixed Reactions as Voters Elect Chairmen, Councillors
The PDP chairmanship candidate for Obio/Akpor LGA, Gift Worlu, acknowledged the delays but described the turnout as a show of support for the party.
Similarly, Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, praised the election as peaceful and more organised than previous polls.
Port Harcourt City LGA chairmanship candidate, Allwell Ihunda, also defended the process, dismissing claims of voter apathy and expressing confidence in his victory based on his first-term performance.
Wike expressed satisfaction with the peaceful nature of the elections, noting that the absence of violence and ballot box snatching was a sign of democratic maturity.
He reiterated that the successful polls make the state ready for the state of emergency to be lifted, ensuring that both local and state governments have elected officials in place. As of the time of reporting, the collation of results was ongoing.
