Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed optimism that the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State will end on September 18.
Wike gave the assurance yesterday after casting his vote in the ongoing local government elections in the state.
President Bola Tinubu had, earlier this year, declared emergency rule in Rivers to stave off a looming political crisis. The measure saw Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly suspended from office for six months.
Speaking on Saturday, Wike said the atmosphere in the state had since stabilised, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supervised grassroots polls were holding in a peaceful environment.
“As far as we are concerned, this election is peaceful. People are trooping out, and at the end of the day it will be seen that it was conducted successfully and peacefully,” the former Rivers governor said.
He added: “I do know that by September 18, the state of emergency will expire, the state assembly will return to its job, and we will have government at the grassroots level.”
According to him, the conditions that warranted the emergency proclamation no longer exist, as both the state and local governments now have representatives in place.
“The coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted. We are good to go,” he said.
The development has raised expectations in political circles that the suspended governor and lawmakers may return to office next month, setting the stage for a fresh phase in Rivers politics.
