Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has assured that the local government election conducted on Saturday in Rivers State will usher in the return of Mr Siminalayi Fubara as Governor of the State.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Wike gave the assurance after casting his vote at Polling Unit 007, Ward 9, Rumuepirikom community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA).
Wike further stressed that the polls would pave the way for the expiration of the State of Emergency by September 18, noting that the election was to ensure that elected council chairmen and councillors could access funds directly from the federation account, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling against caretaker committees.
“Now that the process is very clear, and done according to law, nobody is worried. The local government election will ultimately restore democratic governance at the local level,” the FCT Minister said.
While commending the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for organising the election, Wike expressed satisfaction with the conduct and turnout of voters, describing the exercise as a significant step toward restoring democratic governance at the grassroots level.
Speaking after partaking in the polls, the FCT Minister said the exercise was necessary following the Supreme Court’s earlier nullification of a previous election, which it ruled was conducted outside the ambit of the law.
“The Supreme Court said there was no election. They nullified the election held earlier. Today we are holding an election, which is why you see people have come out. If you do something unknown to the law, of course, it would be set aside,” the minister stated.
Wike noted that while commercial areas witnessed lower voter participation, turnout in residential and rural areas was impressive. He attributed the enthusiasm of voters to the clarity and legality of the current process.
The minister also commended President Bola Tinubu for “taking the bold step” to ensure the elections were conducted, adding that the outcome would stabilise grassroots administration ahead of the restoration of full democratic structures in the state.
By the end of the polls, Wike said, newly elected officials would emerge and be sworn in to manage council affairs.
The FCT Minister said: “The local government election will ultimately restore democratic governance at the local level. Of course, the State of Emergency will lapse by September.
“That is why we have to thank Mr President for taking the bold step to make sure that this election is conducted.
“First of all, if elections are not conducted, you know that the Supreme Court has said that there is nothing like caretaker committee in local government.
“And when there is no election, there will be no funds that will come to the local government from the federal accounts.
“And that means that if the emergency rule is lifted and there is no local government election, we will still have the same problem.
“And now the local government election is taking place, which means that they have elected people, and they will be able to get funds directly from the federal accounts”.
He added: “By the time the State of Emergency is lifted on the 18th of September, it means that the Governor and the State Assembly will come back.
“So, without the local government election, it would not have been possible. So, we are very glad that today we are conducting this election and by the end of the day, the elected people will emerge and they will be sworn in”.