Wike votes in Rivers LG polls, rejects reports of apathy

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

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

“That is not correct. In most cases, the election starts at
10am in the morning. 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 the legislative arm 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.