The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has come under intense criticism following his recent decision to sack the 23 local government caretaker chairmen and the chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.).
His decision, made public on Wednesday, also included the appointment of Dr. Michael Odey as the new RSIEC chairman along with six new commission members, four of whom are professors. These changes have sparked widespread outrage from political figures, civil society groups, and elder statesmen who view the move as unconstitutional and harmful to democracy.
Ibas’s announcement came just a day after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt ordered him to appear before it to explain why he should not be restrained from appointing local government administrators. The case was filed by a civic group, PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu.
Despite the court order, the Rivers State Government, through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, issued a statement confirming the new appointments. The statement read, “His Excellency, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (retd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of Administrators for the 23 local government areas of Rivers State. All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”
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Backlash from Governor’s Camp
Governor Siminilayi Fubara’s Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, did not hold back in his reaction. He described the actions of Ibas as “impunity taken too far.”
Omatsogunwa said, “We have seen impunity pro-max in Rivers State. The National Assembly has also said that the budget preparation he claimed to be working on will not stand because that is not the purpose for which he was sent here. And the court has asked him not to do anything until he appears, yet he appointed 23 new administrators. He is now a lord unto himself. This cannot stand in a democratic setting.”
PANDEF Leader Warns of Democratic Collapse
The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, also expressed deep concern. In an open letter, he accused the sole administrator of dismantling the democratic structures in Rivers State.
Igali wrote, “I have observed a systematic tearing down of various structures that are essential to democracy. It is troubling to witness the dismantling of institutions that have long existed in the state. Removing the governor’s photographs from state offices, suspending governing councils of tertiary institutions, and sidelining traditional rulers are undemocratic actions.”
He added, “You were appointed as a placeholder—to ensure peace and manage the state’s daily affairs. Nowhere in the Gazette or National Assembly records are you given sweeping powers to make such drastic decisions.”
Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a prominent elder and member of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council, described the appointments as unconstitutional and declared the entire development a political “coup.”
Sara-Igbe declared, “The man (Ibas) has no constitutional bearing, so he has no power to appoint or remove anybody. What is happening is illegal. Mr. President has violated Section 10 of the constitution, which says that no one can take over the government without due process. This is impunity, and there is a court order not to proceed with these appointments, yet he ignored it.”
Civil Society Threatens Protest
The Rivers Emancipation Movement (REM), a civil society group, also condemned the sole administrator’s actions. Its National President, Solomon Tamunotonye, threatened mass action, alleging that most of the newly appointed administrators are loyal to former governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Tamunotonye stated, “This is a clear violation of the constitution and Supreme Court rulings. It is unacceptable to hand over local governments to Wike’s allies. This shows a lack of neutrality and fuels the ongoing political crisis in the state.”
Defenders Say Actions Are Justified
However, not everyone believes Ibas has overstepped his mandate. The House Minority Leader and member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Mr. Kingsley Chinda, defended the sole administrator.
He argued that there were no elected local government officials in place when Ibas assumed office, and that he acted within the law by appointing administrators to fill the gap temporarily.
Chinda explained, “The Supreme Court has ruled that funds must not be released to non-democratic councils. The sole administrator met a vacuum. The RSIEC chairman had absconded, and three commissioners resigned. What was he supposed to do?”
He added, “He had no reasonable option but to appoint administrators while preparing for fresh elections. These appointments were necessary to restore democratic order, not undermine it.”
The controversy has deepened an already tense political environment in Rivers State, where power struggles and conflicting legal interpretations are tearing at the fabric of governance.