The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has hailed the conduct of the Rivers State local government elections on Saturday, describing the exercise as peaceful and successful.
Wike, a former governor of the state, cast his ballot around 11:15 a.m. at Rumepirikom, Ward 9, Unit 007, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, where he once served as local government council chairman for two terms.
After voting, the minister dismissed concerns about voter apathy and the non-usage of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in the polls.
“I am very happy. It means that people identify with the election. You have not heard of any violence. You have not heard of carrying ballot boxes. You see that the electoral materials are there, people are there casting their votes. As far as we are concerned, the election is very peaceful,” Wike told reporters.
He added that while turnout appeared low at the time of his arrival, more people were still trooping out to vote.
On the absence of BVAS, Wike argued that it did not undermine the credibility of the exercise.
“Of course, we are concerned [about low turnout] but people are trooping out. Before the election closes, you will see the number of persons [increase]. So, we are very happy that, at the end of the day, this election has been conducted very peacefully and successfully.”
The minister also linked the successful conduct of the local polls to the possibility of lifting the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers earlier this year.
“So having done this, then the coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted, meaning that the local government has representatives, the state government has its own elected representatives, so we are good to go,” he said.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the state of emergency rule was imposed in March amid heightened political tensions between Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, which led to the suspension of the governor, his deputy, and the State Assembly.
