Wike Signals End of Rivers Emergency Rule After LG Polls

 The successful conduct of Rivers State’s local government elections has paved the way for lifting the emergency rule, according to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, declared that the peaceful Rivers State local government elections signal the end of the state’s emergency rule. Speaking after voting in Rumepirikom, Obio/Akpo LGA, Wike praised the absence of violence and dismissed concerns about low voter turnout, noting increased participation as the day progressed. 

The elections, overseen by sole administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, followed President Bola Tinubu’s March 2025 emergency declaration, which suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers amid a political feud between Wike and Fubara. Wike emphasized that the polls, establishing elected local and state representatives, clear the path for democratic restoration by September 18, when the emergency rule expires.

The elections, conducted across 6,866 polling units, faced criticism from some stakeholders, who questioned their legitimacy under an emergency administration. Despite legal challenges and boycott calls, Wike hailed the process as a step toward stability. The development tests Tinubu’s commitment to resolving Rivers’ political crisis, with some praising the move toward normalcy, while others demand Fubara’s reinstatement. As Rivers navigates this pivotal moment, the elections signal hope for governance restoration, shaping the state’s political future.