The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike – CON, GSSRS, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing local government election in Rivers State, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring the polls were held in line with the Supreme Court’s directive.
Wike, who spoke to journalists shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 007, Ward 9 (Rumuepirikom Kingdom), Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, on Saturday, described the exercise as successful and a crucial step toward strengthening grassroots governance.
“I want to thank RSIEC for carrying out a successful conduct of local government elections,” Wike said. “This is my community, and I can see the turnout of people in this particular unit, so it is in other units. When you go to commercial areas, you don’t expect a large turnout, but in residential areas, of course, you do.”
The minister praised residents for turning out in large numbers, particularly in rural areas, noting that Rivers people were happy to elect their local representatives.
He dismissed fears of any legal obstacles, insisting that the process was constitutionally sound. “There was no election by law before, and the Supreme Court said so. Today we are holding an election, and that is why people are coming out to cast their votes. If you do something not known to law, it will be set aside, but this process is clear,” he added.
Wike emphasized that with the elections conducted, local governments in the state would now be eligible to receive their allocations directly from the Federation Account, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.
“That is why we have to thank Mr. President for making sure this election is conducted,” Wike stated. “If there are no elected people, funds will not come from the Federation Account to the local government accounts. Now that the election is holding, there will be elected leaders, and they will get funds directly.”
He stressed that the successful conduct of the election would help stabilize governance at the grassroots level ahead of the lifting of the emergency rule in September, when the governor and the State Assembly are expected to return.
“By the end of the day, elected people will emerge, be sworn in, and we will know that we have legitimate representatives at the grassroots,” Wike concluded.
