By Patrick Idowu
Tension is rising in Rivers State following the unexpected decision by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retired), to appoint administrators for all 23 Local Government Areas, defying a fresh court order that sought to block such action.
Barely 24 hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt issued a restraining order against appointing local council administrators, the retired naval chief pressed ahead with a sweeping move that has sparked political uproar and legal debates across the state.
The appointments were confirmed on Wednesday morning through a Special Government Announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika.
According to the notice, the newly selected administrators — a blend of seasoned academics, legal experts, and professionals — are expected to assume office immediately, starting Monday, April 7, 2025.
Among those appointed are Dr Tamunotonye Peters for Akuku Toru, Barrister Ibiapuye Charles for Asari Toru, and Professor Gospel G Kpee for Gokana, alongside several others carefully chosen to oversee the councils.
However, the timing has raised eyebrows. Justice Adam Muhammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had earlier, in suit number FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu, placed an injunction restraining the state from proceeding with such appointments.
The case challenges the legality of caretaker administrations in place of democratically elected councils.
Legal observers warn that Ibas’s decision may trigger a constitutional crisis, fuelling debates over governance, the sanctity of court orders, and respect for the rule of law.
In a further twist, the Sole Administrator also reconstituted several suspended boards and agencies, including the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The newly installed electoral body is chaired by Dr Michael Ekpai Odey, with Professor Arthur Nwafor and Professor Chidi among its members, a move seen by some as a preparation for future local council elections.
As the state braces for potential legal battles and political realignments, all eyes remain fixed on Rivers, where the line between bold governance and constitutional breach appears increasingly blurred.
