Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, has suggested that suspended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, could be reinstated on September 18, following the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s local government elections.

Wike spoke shortly after casting his vote around 11:00 am at Unit 007, Ward 9, Rumuepirikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

The elections, conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) across 319 wards in 23 LGAs, were marked by late arrival of materials, missing result sheets, and widespread voter apathy particularly in Port Harcourt. However, some rural areas recorded better turnout.

Observers faulted RSIEC’s sidelining of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), as officials resorted to manual accreditation. Complaints also trailed the non-availability of original result sheets in polling units across Emohua, Obio/Akpor, and even Opobo/Nkoro, the governor’s home LGA.

Despite these lapses, leading PDP candidates, including Obio/Akpor chairmanship hopeful Dr. Gift Worlu, Port Harcourt City chairmanship candidate Sir Allwell Ihunda, and House of Reps Minority Leader Hon. Kingsley Chinda, hailed the polls as peaceful and credible.

Wike, who also praised the exercise, argued that it reflected stability in the state.
“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.

He questioned the non-usage of BVAS but maintained that the calm atmosphere reflected “growing democratic maturity” in Rivers.

As at press time, collation of results was ongoing in several LGAs.