Rivers State Administrator Ibas Defies Court Order, Appoints Administrators For 23 Local Govt Areas
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state — less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court reportedly restrained him from doing so.
The appointments, along with the reconstitution of previously suspended boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, were announced in a Special Government Announcement issued Wednesday morning by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibibia Worika.
“His Excellency The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State,” the statement read.
“He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended. All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”
The development comes amid legal uncertainty.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Justice Adam Muhammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, in suit no. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, granted an interim order restraining the Sole Administrator from making such appointments.
The suit was filed by a civic group, PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu.
Speaking to reporters, Msirimovu expressed concern over the administrator’s decision to proceed despite the court’s directive.
“This is a blatant disregard for the rule of law,” Msirimovu said.
“We are witnessing a dangerous trend where court orders are treated as mere suggestions. This undermines the very fabric of democracy and governance.”
However, the list of appointed LG administrators has yet to be made public.
In a separate administrative shakeup, Ibas also nullified all pending procurement and tender processes conducted by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.
According to a prior statement by the SSG, the cancellation stems from the absence of an appropriation law following a recent Supreme Court judgment.
“All MDAs that carried out such tender processes are directed to refund the fees collected from contractors immediately,” the statement added.
Just last week, Ibas suspended all heads of MDAs in Rivers State with immediate effect, a decision that analysts say indicates a sweeping consolidation of administrative control.
