Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed deep satisfaction with the conduct of the Rivers State local government elections, calling the process “credible”, “lawful”, and “a crucial step” toward stabilizing grassroots governance in the state. Wike, who cast his vote at his polling unit in Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, praised President Bola Tinubu for ensuring that the election took place, in line with the Supreme Court’s directive abolishing caretaker committees in local government administration. He emphasized that the election was a vital move to fill governance gaps at the grassroots level. Wike’s Praise for Tinubu and the Supreme Court Wike argued that without democratically elected councils, local governments could not receive their share of funding from the Federation Account, highlighting the importance of local elections for financial and administrative autonomy. He also applauded the President for his role in ensuring the election went ahead as directed by the Supreme Court. “Since the Supreme Court has said there is nothing like caretaker committees in local governments, if there are no elected people, funds will not come from the Federation Accounts to the local government accounts,” Wike told journalists after voting. “We must thank Mr President for making sure that this election was conducted.” Voter Turnout and RSIEC’s Role Wike also praised the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for successfully organizing the election, commending the high voter turnout, particularly in residential areas. He noted that although commercial areas did not show high turnout, rural communities and residential zones saw robust participation, reflecting the people’s commitment to strengthening democracy at the grassroots. “This is my community, I can see the turnout of people in this particular unit, so it is in other units,” Wike said. “Rivers people are happy to have their own people contesting elections, so I’m very happy with the turnout.” Reports from rural communities indicated widespread participation, further cementing Wike’s view that Rivers people were eager to contribute to the strengthening of democracy. Legal Challenges and Reassurance Regarding fears of legal challenges to the election results, Wike was confident that the process was conducted within the bounds of the law. He dismissed concerns about potential challenges in the Supreme Court, asserting that the election had been conducted in accordance with the law, unlike previous non-elections that had been ruled unlawful by the court. “If you do something that is not known to law, of course, it will be set aside,” Wike remarked. “But now that the process is very clear and known to law, nobody is worried. All the people are doing is just to come out and cast their votes for whoever they want to represent them at the local government.” The Significance of Grassroots Stability Wike highlighted that the election’s success would ensure that local governments could directly access their statutory financial allocations, in line with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on local government financial autonomy. This, he argued, would strengthen service delivery at the grassroots and prepare Rivers State for a smooth transition when the emergency rule imposed in the state is lifted in September. “By the time the emergency rule is lifted in September, it means that the governor and state assembly will come back, so without local government, it would not have been complete,” he added. “Elected people will emerge, be sworn in, and we will know that we have elected representatives at the grassroots level.” A Key Moment for Rivers Democracy Wike’s comments come at a pivotal time in Rivers State, where the political climate has been dominated by legal disputes, power struggles, and the imposition of emergency rule. The successful conduct of the local government elections marks a crucial moment for the state, signaling the return of democratic order at the grassroots level. The election’s legitimacy ensures that local governments can function effectively, access funds, and deliver services directly to the people. For Wike, the election was not only an opportunity to reaffirm his loyalty to President Tinubu but also to position himself as a staunch advocate for grassroots democracy in Rivers State.
