Wike says Rivers state of emergency will expire September 18

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, on Saturday expressed confidence that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State will lapse on September 18.

Punch reported that Wike disclosed this to journalists after casting his vote in the ongoing local government elections in the state.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier imposed emergency rule in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for six months in a bid to stave off a political crisis.

“As far as we are concerned, this election is peaceful. People are trooping out, and at the end of the day, the election has been conducted successfully and peacefully,” Wike said.

The minister noted that the expiration of the emergency rule would restore legislative activity in the state.

“I do know that by September 18, the state of emergency will expire and the state assembly will come back to their job, and we will have a government at the grassroots level,” he added.

Wike explained that the conditions were now favourable for lifting the emergency order since both state and local governments had been provided with representatives.

“The coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted, being that the state government has its representative and the local government has its representatives, so we are good to go,” he said.