The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the possibility of local government elections holding in Rivers State in August 2025, citing legal and procedural irregularities.
Speaking during a media parley on Wednesday, Wike accused the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (Rtd), of undermining legislative authority by evading a summons from the State Assembly and seeking refuge in the courts.
“The Assembly summoned the RSIEC chairman, one of the most corrupt individuals I’ve ever encountered. Instead of honoring the invitation, he ran to the State High Court because of his relationship with the Chief Judge,” Wike alleged.
He further questioned the credibility of the electoral body under Enebeli’s leadership, suggesting that financial motives were at play in the decision to proceed with the proposed August 27 council polls.
“Let me tell you why that election will not stand—it’s because of the illegality that surrounds it. That chairman is only interested in how much he can make. I know him well. I appointed him, and I accept responsibility for that, but he lacks the character required for such an office,” Wike said.
The minister likened the situation to a hypothetical scenario where the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would ignore a National Assembly summons and seek protection in court—a move he described as undemocratic.
Wike’s remarks come amid a simmering political crisis in Rivers State, marked by a deepening rift between him and the incumbent Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.