The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed optimism that the state of emergency declared in Rivers State will end on September 18.

Wike made this known on Saturday after casting his vote in the ongoing local government election in the state.

According to him, the expiration of the emergency rule would pave the way for the Rivers State House of Assembly to resume legislative duties.

 “As far as we are concerned, this election is peaceful. People are trooping out and at the end of the day, the election has been conducted successfully and peacefully. I do know that by September 18, the state of emergency will expire and the state assembly will come back to their job. We will then have a government at the grassroots level,” he said.

The minister noted that conditions were now favorable for lifting the emergency rule since both the state and local governments had representation.

 “The coast is clear for the state of emergency to be lifted, being that the state government has its representative and the local government has its representatives. So, we are good to go,” he added.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier imposed the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State to avert a political crisis, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly.