Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing local government elections in the state.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for ensuring that the elections were held, saying: “Since the Supreme Court has ruled that there is nothing like caretaker committees in local governments, if there are no elected officials, funds will not come from the Federation Account to local government accounts. So, if the emergency rule is lifted and there is no local government election, we will still face the same problem.”
Wike praised the people of the state for turning out in large numbers to participate in the exercise.
He made the remarks while addressing journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 007, Ward 9 (Rumuepirikom Kingdom), Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
“When you go to commercial areas, you don’t expect a large turnout of voters, but when you go to residential areas, of course, you expect people to turn out.
“This is my community, and I can see the turnout here in this unit, as is the case in other units. But if you go to where there are commercial activities, you don’t expect many people,” he said.
The minister noted that residents were pleased to participate in the polls.
Wike added: “Rivers people are happy to see their own contesting elections. I’m very impressed with the turnout, and I have received many reports from rural areas showing that people came out in large numbers to participate, which makes me very happy.”
He dismissed fears that the Supreme Court might set aside the elections, stressing: *“There was no election before, by law. The Supreme Court declared there was no election. Today we are holding a valid election, which is why people are turning out to vote.
“If you do something that is not recognised by law, of course, it will be set aside. But now that the process is clear and legally valid, nobody is worried. All the people are doing is coming out to vote for whoever they want to represent them at the local government level.”*
Wike further explained that with the conduct of the polls, local governments were now assured of receiving their funds directly from the Federation Account, as directed by the Supreme Court.
He emphasised that the successful conduct of the elections would go a long way in stabilising governance at the grassroots.
“That is why we must thank Mr President for ensuring these elections are held. If elections were not conducted, the Supreme Court has made it clear that there can be no caretaker committees, and without elected officials, funds will not come from the Federation Account to the local government accounts.
“This means that if the emergency rule is lifted and no elections are held, we would still face the same problem. Now that the elections are being conducted, elected representatives will receive funds directly from the Federation Account.
“Everyone must support this process in order to stabilise governance at the grassroots. By the time the emergency rule is lifted in September, the governor and the State Assembly will return, and without elected local governments, it would not have been complete.
“So, we are very glad that today these elections are being conducted. By the end of the day, winners will emerge, be sworn in, and we will have elected representatives at the grassroots,” Wike said.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for ensuring that the elections were held, saying: “Since the Supreme Court has ruled that there is nothing like caretaker committees in local governments, if there are no elected officials, funds will not come from the Federation Account to local government accounts. So, if the emergency rule is lifted and there is no local government election, we will still face the same problem.”
Wike praised the people of the state for turning out in large numbers to participate in the exercise.
He made the remarks while addressing journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 007, Ward 9 (Rumuepirikom Kingdom), Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
“When you go to commercial areas, you don’t expect a large turnout of voters, but when you go to residential areas, of course, you expect people to turn out.
“This is my community, and I can see the turnout here in this unit, as is the case in other units. But if you go to where there are commercial activities, you don’t expect many people,” he said.
The minister noted that residents were pleased to participate in the polls.
Wike added: “Rivers people are happy to see their own contesting elections. I’m very impressed with the turnout, and I have received many reports from rural areas showing that people came out in large numbers to participate, which makes me very happy.”
He dismissed fears that the Supreme Court might set aside the elections, stressing: *“There was no election before, by law. The Supreme Court declared there was no election. Today we are holding a valid election, which is why people are turning out to vote.
“If you do something that is not recognised by law, of course, it will be set aside. But now that the process is clear and legally valid, nobody is worried. All the people are doing is coming out to vote for whoever they want to represent them at the local government level.”*
Wike further explained that with the conduct of the polls, local governments were now assured of receiving their funds directly from the Federation Account, as directed by the Supreme Court.
He emphasised that the successful conduct of the elections would go a long way in stabilising governance at the grassroots.
“That is why we must thank Mr President for ensuring these elections are held. If elections were not conducted, the Supreme Court has made it clear that there can be no caretaker committees, and without elected officials, funds will not come from the Federation Account to the local government accounts.
“This means that if the emergency rule is lifted and no elections are held, we would still face the same problem. Now that the elections are being conducted, elected representatives will receive funds directly from the Federation Account.
“Everyone must support this process in order to stabilise governance at the grassroots. By the time the emergency rule is lifted in September, the governor and the State Assembly will return, and without elected local governments, it would not have been complete.
“So, we are very glad that today these elections are being conducted. By the end of the day, winners will emerge, be sworn in, and we will have elected representatives at the grassroots,” Wike said.