The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, along with the State House of Assembly, will be reinstated on September 18 to work with newly elected local government chairmen and councillors.

Wike made the remark shortly after casting his vote at Ward 9, Unit 7, Rumuepirikom in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area during Saturday’s local government elections. He noted that the synergy between the governor, lawmakers, and local government officials would help stabilise governance at the grassroots.

The minister commended President Bola Tinubu for ensuring the timely conduct of the polls, which he said averted the imposition of caretaker committees—an arrangement the Supreme Court has already outlawed.

“We must thank Mr. President for taking the bold step to ensure this election was held.

“If there were no elected officials, local government councils would have been unable to access funds from the Federation Account. Now that elections have been conducted, elected officials can receive funds directly, which will stabilise governance at the grassroots when the state of emergency is lifted on September 18.”

In a similar vein, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha, who also voted at his polling unit in Rumuigbo, Obio-Akpor LGA, described the exercise as the most peaceful election he had ever witnessed.

“This is unusual for elections I’ve participated in. Nobody is pushing anyone, everywhere is calm, and voters came out to vote freely for their candidates,” Okocha said.

However, despite the peaceful atmosphere, voter apathy was observed across several polling units monitored in Obio-Akpor LGA.

Many units recorded low turnout, while youths were seen playing football on deserted streets.

Some attributed their non-participation to distrust in the process, alleging that election results had already been predetermined.