By Peter Salami
As political tensions simmer in Rivers State, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has categorically ruled out the possibility of an extension of the emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu, warning that such a move would be unacceptable to Rivers people.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja, Wike stressed that extending the emergency rule beyond its current timeline would not sit well with the citizens of the state, who are eager to see a return to democratic governance at the grassroots level. He assured that President Tinubu shares this sentiment and is fully committed to ensuring that local government elections hold as scheduled on August 30.
Wike argued that prolonging the state of emergency would only fuel further unrest and discontent among the populace, given that the suspension of democratic structures at the local level has already strained relations between the government and the people. He emphasized that the President’s directive mandating the conduct of local government elections within 30 days was aimed at restoring normalcy and averting a constitutional crisis over local government administration and access to funds.
According to Wike, Tinubu’s decision to invoke emergency powers was a last resort to prevent a governance vacuum in the local councils after the expiration of the tenure of elected chairmen. However, he maintained that the goal was never to allow the emergency rule to linger indefinitely, as it would be politically toxic and legally cumbersome.
He highlighted the legal constraints that would arise if the elections are not conducted on schedule. Without elected local government officials, he explained, the state would be unable to form caretaker committees due to Supreme Court judgments that prohibit such appointments. This, in turn, would block access to funds from the Federation Account, deepening the crisis at the local level.
Wike insisted that Tinubu’s position is clear: holding the elections is the only viable path to lifting the emergency rule and restoring democratic institutions in the state. Any further delay, he warned, would ignite backlash from Rivers people, who are already agitated by the suspension of their local government structures.
The Minister also dismissed insinuations that his loyalists would dominate the upcoming elections, brushing off allegations of manipulating the process. He criticised those challenging the legality of the emergency rule and accused them of being more interested in media grandstanding than in seeking judicial remedies.
Beyond Rivers politics, Wike used the platform to temper expectations from the Tinubu administration, stating that no government, even if it stayed in power for two decades, could solve all of Nigeria’s problems. However, he was quick to point out that the administration is tackling key infrastructural challenges that would significantly improve the quality of life for Nigerians, especially residents of the FCT.
On party politics, Wike reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), vowing never to abandon the party to “Buccaneers and Vampires.” He described his recent meeting with Labour Party Chairman, Julius Abure, as a routine engagement between politicians, dismissing speculations about its implications for 2027 elections.
For now, all eyes remain on the August 30 local government elections in Rivers State, with political observers warning that failure to deliver on this timeline could trigger a new wave of agitation, given Wike’s clear assertion that Rivers people will not tolerate an extension of the emergency rule under any guise.