The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing local government elections in Rivers State.
Wike praised residents for turning out in large numbers to exercise their civic duty.
He made the remarks while speaking to journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 007, Ward 9 (Rumuepirikom Kingdom) in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
” I want to thank RSIEC for carrying out a successful conduct of local government elections.
“Let me make it clear that this is a local government election and I expect particularly the media to have done their homework very well in knowing where the residential areas and commercial areas are.
“When you go to commercial areas, you don’t expect a large turnout of people but when you go to residential areas, of course, you expect people to turn out.
“This is my community, I can see the turn out of people in this particular unit, so it is in other units.
“But if you go to areas with commercial activities, you shouldn’t expect a large crowd,” he said.
The minister noted that residents of the state were eager to take part in the local government elections.
“Rivers people are pleased to see their own contesting these elections. I’m very happy with the turnout, and I’ve received several reports from rural areas indicating strong participation. That gives me great satisfaction,” Wike added.