BREAKING: Wike speaks on Tinubu extending Rivers emergency rule
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, stated that President Tinubu is not in support of extending the interim governance arrangement beyond its original timeframe.
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Wike speaks on Tinubu extending Rivers emergency rule
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has announced that the six-month emergency rule declared in Rivers State is nearing its end, with plans already underway to restore democratic governance at the local level.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, Wike disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had signed a fresh directive mandating that local government elections be conducted in Rivers State within the next 30 days.
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Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, stated that President Tinubu is not in support of extending the interim governance arrangement beyond its original timeframe.
> “The President, from my understanding, does not want the emergency rule extended because doing so will not be palatable to the people,” he said.
He revealed that a new regulation signed in July overrides the earlier 360-day window for elections and instead imposes a strict 30-day timeline for the polls to be conducted.
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The current State Administrator, Vice Admiral (rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, appointed to manage the state during the emergency period, will be responsible for overseeing the electoral process and ensuring a return to normalcy at the grassroots level.
The emergency rule was declared by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, following weeks of political unrest and a breakdown of law and order in Rivers State. The federal government at the time said the drastic measure was necessary to stabilize the state and prevent a wider crisis.
With the announcement, Rivers State appears to be on track to transition back to constitutional governance as tensions begin to ease.
