Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers State, defied a federal court order by appointing administrators for 23 local government areas. The appointments, effective from April 7, come amidst the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu. This follows a Supreme Court ruling nullifying the LGA elections.
Ibok-Ete Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers State, has moved ahead with the appointment of administrators for the 23 local government areas (LGAs) in the state. The appointments, which took effect on April 7, came just a day after a court in Port Harcourt had issued a restraining order against such appointments, citing a potential breach of legal proceedings.
Ibibia Worika, the Secretary to the State Government, confirmed the appointments in a statement, underscoring the administrator's decision to continue governance despite the court's intervention. Along with the appointments, Ibas also approved the reconstitution of several boards of agencies and parastatals that had been suspended.
The newly appointed administrators include Okroiyobi Animiete, Goodluck Iheanacho, Promise Jacob, Tamunotonye Peters, Ibiapuve Charles, and Kingsley N. Banigo, among others. These appointments come at a time of heightened political tension in Rivers State, with a background marked by political instability and unrest in the local government sector.
The controversy surrounding these appointments stems from a series of events in the state. On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the ongoing political crisis and the destruction of oil infrastructure. Following the declaration, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, along with the entire state assembly, were suspended for an initial period of six months. Ibas, a retired naval officer, was appointed as the sole administrator of the state, immediately taking action to suspend all political officeholders appointed by Fubara.
Before the state of emergency was declared, Fubara had directed elected local government chairpersons to hand over their positions to appointed administrators after a Supreme Court ruling nullified the LGA elections held in October 2024.
Ibas's recent defiance of the court's directive has sparked concern among legal experts and political figures alike. The decision could have profound implications for the governance of Rivers State, further complicating an already volatile political landscape. It remains to be seen whether the state government will face legal repercussions for this action or whether the security forces will intervene to enforce the court's order.
This latest development serves as a reminder of the growing tensions in Rivers State, where power struggles and legal disputes have undermined the state's political stability. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on how the federal government and judicial authorities respond to the defiance of a court order by a key state official.
