Rivers State Sole Administrator Defies Court Order, Appoints LGA Administrators Amid Political Crisis

Breaking: Rivers State Sole Administrator Greenlights LGA Appointments Despite Court Restraint

Rivers State’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has sparked controversy by approving administrators for all 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs), defying a Federal High Court order issued just 24 hours earlier. The court, presided over by Justice Adamu Mohammed, had barred Ibas from making such appointments following an ex parte motion filed by the civil society group Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative.

The move, announced in a Wednesday statement by Secretary to the State Government Prof. Ibibia Worika, also includes reconstituting boards for suspended agencies, commissions, and parastatals. While appointees’ names remain undisclosed, the directive takes immediate effect, retroactive to April 7, 2025.

Court Order Clashes with Executive Action

The Port Harcourt court’s restraining order, secured by CSO leader Courage Nsirimovu, sought to halt Ibas’s authority to appoint LGA officials. Despite this, the Sole Administrator proceeded, citing his mandate under President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration.

This decision follows Ibas’s earlier suspension of all Rivers State Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) heads last week—a move critics argue consolidates power amid the ongoing political turmoil.

Procurement Cancellations and Refund Directives

In a parallel development, Ibas nullified all pending tender processes initiated by MDAs, citing the absence of a valid appropriation law post-Supreme Court rulings. Contractors paid for halted projects must now receive refunds, per the Sole Administrator’s orders.

Background: Tinubu’s State of Emergency and Fubara’s Ouster

President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the state assembly for six months. Ibas, a retired naval chief, was appointed to stabilize the oil-rich region.

Prior to his suspension, Fubara had directed LGA chairpersons to hand over to administrators after the Supreme Court invalidated October 2024 council polls. Ibas’s latest appointments deepen the power struggle, raising questions about constitutional compliance.

Key Context for Readers

State of Emergency: Tinubu’s decree followed escalating tensions between Fubara and federal authorities.
Supreme Court Ruling: Nullified 2024 LGA elections, triggering administrative chaos.
Legal Battles: CSOs challenge Ibas’s authority, signaling potential prolonged litigation.

What You Should Know