Uproar in Rivers , as Sole Administrator Ibas Sacks LG Caretakers, RSIEC Boss Amid Court Summons
Rivers State descended deeper into political tension on Wednesday as the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), took sweeping actions that critics say have effectively dismantled the state’s democratic framework. His sudden dismissal of all 23 Local Government Area (LGA) Caretaker Chairmen and the replacement of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), has ignited a firestorm of criticism and legal challenges.
In place of the sacked officials, Ibas appointed new administrators for each of the 23 LGAs and named Dr. Michael Odey as the new RSIEC boss. Odey is set to work with a newly constituted team that includes four university professors — a move the government claims reflects a commitment to intellectual competence and institutional reform. However, this restructuring was announced barely 24 hours after the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt ordered Ibas to appear before it, following a suit filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative (Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025), which is challenging the legality of his appointments.
In a formal announcement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, Ibas justified the actions as necessary to restore accountability and governance in the state.
The appointments are to take effect from Monday, April 7, 2025. In addition, the sole administrator has reconstituted several boards of parastatals, agencies, and commissions previously suspended.
Last week, Ibas had already drawn public scrutiny for suspending all heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in Rivers State. He followed this up by annulling all procurement and tender processes carried out by MDAs, citing the lack of an approved state budget and the Supreme Court’s judgment as legal justifications. Contractors who had paid fees for tenders have been instructed to seek refunds from the respective agencies.
A Widening Crack in Rivers’ Political Structure
The recent wave of appointments, suspensions, and institutional reforms has exacerbated the already tense political atmosphere in Rivers State, where the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara has been locked in a power tussle with the federal-appointed sole administrator.
Governor Fubara’s Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, denounced the latest actions as a complete abuse of office. “He is now a lord unto himself,” Omatsogunwa remarked.
“The National Assembly has made it clear that the role of the sole administrator is not to prepare or present a state budget. Now, he’s going against court orders, dismantling democratic structures, and appointing his own administrators. That is impunity at its peak.”
PANDEF Sounds the Alarm
Even more damning was the reaction from the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the region’s foremost socio-political and cultural advocacy group. Its National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, issued an open letter to Vice Admiral Ibas, accusing him of “tearing down the foundational elements of democracy” in Rivers State.
Igali lamented what he described as “a calculated and systematic razing down” of democratic institutions, including the suspension of RSIEC, the State Council of Traditional Rulers, and governing councils of tertiary institutions. He expressed shock at the removal of Governor Fubara’s official portraits from government offices, noting that the action lacked any legal basis and smacked of political vendetta.
“From my understanding of best global practices,” Igali wrote, “a sole administrator’s role is not to govern as an executive but to serve in a transitional capacity. Yet what we see today is an overreach of mandate bordering on autocracy.”
Legal scholars and constitutional experts have also weighed in on the matter, noting that the sole administrator’s powers are limited and should not include the unilateral restructuring of elected or statutory bodies. Professor Boma Kalio, a constitutional lawyer and former Dean of Law at the University of Port Harcourt, described the actions as “constitutionally reckless.”
“If this continues unchecked, it sets a dangerous precedent where federal appointees could assume full executive powers in states, undermining federalism and the autonomy of state governments,” Kalio warned.
Civil society groups have begun mobilizing, with some preparing to challenge the appointments in court and others calling for peaceful protests. The Rivers State Civil Rights Coalition has announced plans to stage a mass protest in Port Harcourt next week, demanding the reinstatement of elected structures and adherence to democratic norms.
Observers fear that the ongoing power tussle could lead to a full-blown constitutional crisis. With the state legislature in disarray, the judiciary stepping in with conflicting rulings, and executive powers being contested between the elected governor and the federally-appointed sole administrator, governance in Rivers State risks grinding to a halt.
As pressure mounts, all eyes are now on the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, where Ibas is expected to explain his actions and defend his authority.
The outcome of the legal proceedings could have significant implications not just for Rivers State but for federal-state relations across Nigeria.
The developments in Rivers State are being closely monitored both nationally and internationally, with growing concern that democratic institutions are under threat. With tensions rising and political lines hardening, the future of governance in Rivers now hangs in the balance, as citizens, civic bodies, and legal institutions brace for what could be a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
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