Wike votes in Rivers LG polls, rejects reports of apathy

Voting and accreditation have commenced in the local government elections in Rivers state.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), cast his vote at about 10:30am on Saturday at his polling unit in Obio/Akpor LGA.

Speaking after casting his ballot, Wike countered reports of voter apathy in the election.

“That is not correct. In most cases, the election starts at 10am. So, when you go to the polling unit by 9am, and you expect people to come out by that time, that is not usually the case,” the minister said while addressing journalists.

The minister said there is a high turnout of voters in residential areas as opposed to commercial areas, which may record low participation.

Wike added that the elections have been peaceful so far, while commending the security agencies for maintaining law and order.

The minister, who served as Rivers governor from 2015 to 2023, was once the chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA.

In February, the supreme court nullified the local government election conducted in Rivers on October 5, 2024, under Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor.

The apex court held that there was no evidence to show that the conditions in section 150(3) of the Electoral Act were met before the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted the polls.

In March, President Bola Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state assembly for six months over the political crisis in the state.

The president appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator, with a term limit of six months.