Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, will be reinstated on September 18.
He recently revealed that the path is now clear for the lifting of the state of emergency declared in Rivers.
Speaking shortly after casting his vote at about 11:00 am in Unit 007, Ward 9, Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area during the Local Government Area elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, Wike hailed the peaceful conduct of the polls.
According to him, the successful conclusion of the local elections will go a long way towards paving the way for the lifting of the state of emergency earlier declared in Rivers, and Fubara can eventually make his return.
He further highlighted that no form of violence or ballot box snatching happened throughout the election.
“I am very happy. It means that people identify with the election. You have not heard of any violence or ballot box snatching. Electoral materials are present, people are casting their votes, and the process is going on peacefully. That’s what matters.
So, having done this, the coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted. The local government now has representatives, the state government has its own elected officials, so we are good to go,” he said.
Maintaining that the peaceful nature of the exercise is a sign of increasing democratic maturity in Rivers, Wike advocated for the usage of BVAS in the conduct of future elections.
