Wike Breaks Silence: Tinubu Has No Plans to Extend Rivers Emergency Rule

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stated that President Bola Tinubu is not in favor of extending the current state of emergency in Rivers State. According to iReporter Online, Wike made this known during a media chat on Monday while addressing concerns surrounding the emergency declaration and the forthcoming local government elections slated for August 30.

Wike explained that President Tinubu’s decision to impose the emergency rule was intended to restore order and democratic structure at the local government level, following months of political unrest. He further clarified that the president had already issued a directive for the elections to be conducted within 30 days, signaling a clear intention to avoid prolonging the emergency administration.

“From my understanding, the President does not want the emergency rule extended,” Wike said. “What he desires is the immediate restoration of democratic governance through local government elections. Otherwise, the inability of the governor to appoint caretaker committees, as ruled by the Supreme Court, would mean these councils remain unfunded and inoperable.”

Wike warned that failure to conduct the elections would deepen administrative and financial paralysis at the grassroots level, as local governments would be unable to access federal allocations without democratically elected leadership in place.

He emphasized that the president’s use of emergency powers to suspend parts of the Electoral Act 2022 was both legal and necessary, allowing for expedited governance measures. “Emergency rule gives the president authority to issue regulations and modify certain laws,” Wike stated. “That’s precisely what he has done to ensure that this transitional period doesn’t spiral into deeper crisis.”

The minister urged stakeholders to support the electoral process as a necessary step toward restoring constitutional governance, ending the emergency intervention, and ensuring the continuity of public services at the grassroots.