FCT Minister Wike defends Rivers State council elections against opposition criticism

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday dismissed opposition leaders’ criticisms of the recent local government elections in Rivers State, stating that the exercise had not been declared illegal by any court of law.

Wike made the remarks while responding to comments by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, who had described the elections as unlawful. He insisted that the polls were conducted legally, praising them as free and fair.

The minister argued that Atiku was unaware of the legal backing for the elections, noting that the emergency rule signed in 2004 empowered the President to make regulations for governance in emergency areas. “He doesn’t know, and as I said, what you don’t know, don’t comment about it,” Wike said.

He also questioned Obi’s moral authority to critique the elections, citing his tenure as Anambra State governor, during which he conducted local government elections just before leaving office.

Wike added that the opposition leaders’ criticisms were driven by frustration over Rivers State, a key source of political funding, no longer being available to them. “Their anger is that they are looking for where they will get funding, and now it’s no longer available in Rivers State. They have no capacity or moral to even talk about it,” he said.

He highlighted the peaceful nature of the elections, noting the absence of gunshots, kidnappings, or other electoral malpractices. “Nobody wants to come back and commend security agencies and RSIEC. You are only saying it’s illegal. It is illegal for you. The court has not pronounced it illegal,” Wike added.

The elections, conducted on Saturday by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), covered all 23 local government areas. Preliminary results announced on Sunday showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning 20 councils, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured three.