In a move that has further deepened the political crisis in Rivers State, Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has announced the immediate appointment of administrators to oversee the affairs of all 23 local government areas. This announcement, made via a special government communication released by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika, on Wednesday morning, comes less than 24 hours after reports emerged of a Federal High Court order purportedly restraining him from taking such action.
The reported court order, issued by Justice Adam Muhammed on Tuesday in suit number FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, was filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu, against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity. The reported injunction aimed to prevent Ibas from appointing individuals to manage the local government councils, adding a layer of legal complexity to the already tense political landscape.
Undeterred by the reported court order, Ibas proceeded with the appointments, further demonstrating his resolve to exert control over the state’s administrative machinery. In addition to the local government appointments, the Sole Administrator also approved the reconstitution of several boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals that he had previously suspended. This broad move to reorganize state institutions suggests a comprehensive effort to reshape the administrative framework in Rivers State.
